What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis, also generally known as pink eye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the whites of the eyes. Conjunctivitis might be attributable to allergies, contact with irritating chemicals, or a viral or bacterial infection.
Photo: dtimiraos/Getty Images
- Viral conjunctivitis Often attributable to one among the adenoviruses, a family of viruses that commonly cause the common cold (upper respiratory illnesses). In temperate climates, adenoviruses are most energetic in spring, early summer, and mid-winter. They infect fluids within the eyes, mouth, and nose, and might be spread from individual to individual on hands and in droplets from coughs and sneezes. In most cases, adenoviruses cause only a light case of conjunctivitis. However, they’ve the potential to cause a more serious infection, called kerato-conjunctivitis, which may cloud the cornea and interfere with vision. In addition to adenovirus, other viruses that cause conjunctivitis include enterovirus, measles virus (rubella), and herpes simplex virus.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis Can be attributable to several various kinds of bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzaepneumococci, staphylococci (staph) and streptococci (strep). Most bacterial infections are spread by touching hands which are contaminated with bacteria. Babies born to moms with gonorrhea or chlamydia may develop conjunctivitis if their eyes are exposed to contaminated fluids within the birth canal during vaginal delivery.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis
Symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
- Red, watery eyes
- Eye irritation (itchy or itchy feeling)
- Eye discharge that may crust across the eyelids.
If it's viral conjunctivitis, the attention fluid is thin, clear, and watery. Eye discharge from bacterial conjunctivitis is commonly thick, colorless (yellow or green), cloudy, and sticky. Sometimes this substance is so sticky that the eyelids follow one another. This is more more likely to occur after waking up from sleep. With allergic conjunctivitis, often each eyes are involved, the itching is more severe and the eyes may swell.
If you wear contact lenses, you usually tend to develop conjunctivitis, which may damage the attention. If your eye becomes red, stop wearing contact lenses. If you could have any pain, contact your primary care doctor or eye doctor immediately.
Diagnosis of conjunctivitis
Your doctor will suspect conjunctivitis if you could have an itchy, red eye with discharge or increased tearing. If your doctor suspects bacterial conjunctivitis, she or he may take a sample of the discharge out of your eye and send it to a lab for testing.
Expected duration of conjunctivitis
Even without treatment, most cases of viral conjunctivitis will clear up inside seven days.
Bacterial conjunctivitis requires antibiotics. Eye redness often starts to clear up inside a couple of days of taking your antibiotics. Make sure you are taking all of your antibiotics, even should you begin to feel higher. Otherwise, the drug may not kill all of the bacteria.
Prevention of conjunctivitis
It is feasible to forestall infectious conjunctivitis. Wash your hands continuously and avoid touching your eyes. At home, never share towels, washcloths or face cosmetics with others, especially eye makeup.
To prevent conjunctivitis in newborns, all pregnant women ought to be tested and, if mandatory, treated for gonorrhea and chlamydia infections. As one other safety measure, newborns are routinely treated with antibiotic eye drops at birth.
Treatment of conjunctivitis
For uncomplicated viral conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter eye drops, which relieve eye symptoms while your body fights the viral infection.
For bacterial conjunctivitis, you'll need a prescription ointment or eye drops that contain antibiotics. Use them for as many days as your doctor tells you, even in case your symptoms clear up in a day or two. You may apply warm compresses, resembling washcloths, to your eyes for 20 to half-hour several times a day. Gently clean the discharge and dry, crusty material from the attention with a clean, damp cotton ball or tissue.
For allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamine eye drops and funky compresses may help relieve itching.
Infants who develop gonorrhea or chlamydial conjunctivitis are treated with antibiotics that might be applied to the attention, taken by mouth or injected right into a vein, depending on the severity. Their moms ought to be screened and treated for gonorrhea or chlamydia infection.
When to Call a Professional
Call your doctor in case your eyes develop into red, watery, and itchy, especially if you could have a thick eye discharge in your eyelids. Call your doctor instantly if you could have pain or swelling in your eyes, or if you could have blurred vision or a high fever or sensitivity to light. Call your doctor instantly each time an infant, especially a newborn, shows symptoms of conjunctivitis.
If you take antibiotics to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, call your doctor in case your eye redness persists after three days.
Assessment
Most cases of uncomplicated viral or bacterial conjunctivitis resolve without everlasting eye damage.
Additional information
National Eye Institute
https://www.nei.nih.gov
American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org