Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane on the inner part of the eyelids and the membrane covering the white of the eye.

The conjunctival membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.

Viral and bacterial forms of conjunctivitis are common in childhood and it is also called pinkeye and red eye.

The bacteria that most commonly cause pink eye are staphylococcus, pneumococcus, and streptococcus.

Symptoms include eye pain, swelling, redness, and a moderate to large amount of discharge, usually yellow or greenish in color.

The discharge commonly accumulates after sleep and the eyelids may be stuck together requiring a warm wash cloth applied to the eyes to remove the discharge.

An inflammation of the conjunctiva (transparent membrane covering the eyeball): Actinic conjunctivitis can be caused by exposure to the ultraviolet radiation of sunlight or other sources, such as exposure to acetylene torches, therapeutic lamps (sun lamps), and klieg lights (powerful carbon-arc lamps producing intense light and used especially in making movies).

"Actinic" is the adjective referring to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight and UV lamps.

Inflammation of the whites of the eyes (the conjunctivae) with itching and redness of the eyes and resulting in tears as a result of an allergy which frequently accompanies hay fever.