Going to Work with "pink eye"

[Fairlythere, ASN, RN]

Okay, so two weeks ago I came down with a right red eye with watery discharge. I woke up after a night shift and found my eye stuck together. After gently washing it, I looked in the mirror, and it was red. :eek:Acckk. I called in and went to the clinic. They said I had probably viral pink eye, which is contagious. Just in case, they gave me some gentamyacin eye drops which didn't seem to help, because it was not bacterial.

In three days it was mildly improved. Occ. Health said I could return to work when it wasn't draining. I went to my doc and she said,no, it lasts five to seven days and she wanted me off work the rest of the week. I was better by the end. The following week was my week off. It was all good, but I was off almost three weeks all told. I was so ready to go back Sunday. I worked four nights. Today, I get up and BLAMO The eye is red, draining, sand papery.

I want to cry. I called in and will go to the doc in the am. But I have no more sick leave. I can't keep doing this. I am not even sure I have a contagious type..none of the grandkids I have been around have it, my husband doesn't have it. Should I go to work anyway and gel and wash like mad????

I really don't want to put people at risk, but on the other hand, how much risk is it. :thankya: How do you know if it is????

[PAROPPY, BSN, RN]

From what I just read I gathered that pink eye is contagious as long as there is discharge coming from the eye (tearing, matting of the eyelashes, etc.) and the person who has contracted it should not return to work or school until all discharge has stopped. But, if the doc has given you antibiotic drops (presumably because it is bacterial) you should wait 24 hours before going back to work. Good luck! If I am dead wrong about any of this info please correct me :)

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Our hospital policy is you stay home until it is done draining. I wouldn't chance it.

Make sure you strip your bed, change out towels and wash them in hot water! And all your makeup you have used has to get tossed too or you'll get reinfected!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

see an ophthalmologist. You may now have a genuine bacterial infection that could lead to decreased vision if untreated. I worked for eye surgeons for several years. We once had to cancel all surgeries and close the office for a week while it was decontaminated. All due to an epidemic of conjunctivitis that went wild. Some people ended up with cornea transplants.

[bluemartian, BSN]

Try not to share your pen if possible

[dcgrrl, ASN, RN]

I agree with the posters above. Please stay home if you are still experiencing discharge from your eye. My fiance had a mild case of pink eye that I contracted but it turned out to be a REALLY BAD case of viral conjuctivitis that lasted a month for me! It was horrible! It was painful...I couldn't stand any kind of light. I never knew your eyes could experience that type of pain.

I was originally misdiagnosed with Iritis by my family practitioner but when I went to an opthamalogist he gave me the proper diagnosis (sigh). He thought I would have permanent scarring on my cornea and put me on optical steriod drops to help my eyes heal...but nothing could be done about the virus I was told. I had to let nature run its course.

He compared the cornea of my eyes to a windshield that just got splashed with street water and was wiped with old blades. It took me more than a year before I no longer saw halos around lights. I couldn't drive at night...it really put a crimp in my ability to get around in the evenings.

Long story short ---please stay home. I know you don't have the leave but your active eye infection may cause someone else even more pain and problems than what you are experiencing ---let alone the time they will have to take off to address their new found case of pink eye.

I hope you get better soon.