Description

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and the eyeball. This membrane is called the conjunctiva. When the small blood vessels of the conjunctiva swollen and irritated, they are more visible. This is what makes the white of your eyes to appear reddish or pink. Pink eye is also called conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis is most often caused by a viral infection. It can also be caused by a bacterial infection, an allergic reaction, or — in babies — a completely open the tear duct.

Though pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. Treatments can help ease the discomfort of pink eye. Because pink eye can be contagious, to obtain an early diagnosis and taking certain precautions can help limit its spread.

Symptoms

The most common pink eye symptoms include:

  • Redness in one or both eyes.
  • Itching in one or both eyes.
  • A gritty feeling in one or both eyes.
  • A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night that may prevent your eye or eyes from opening in the morning.
  • Tearing.
  • Sensitivity to light, which is called photophobia.

When to see a doctor

There is a serious eye disease that can cause redness of the eyes. These conditions can cause pain in the eyes, a feeling that something is caught in the eye, blurred vision and sensitivity to light. If you experience these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.

People who wear contact lenses need to stop wearing your contacts as soon as pink eye symptoms start. If your symptoms do not start to improve within 12 to 24 hours, make an appointment with your eye health professional to make sure that you don't have a more serious eye infection related to contact lens use.

Causes

Causes of conjunctivitis include:

  • Virus.
  • Bacteria.
  • Allergies.
  • A chemical splash in the eye.
  • A foreign object in the eye.
  • In newborns, a blockage of the tear duct.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis

Most cases of conjunctivitis are caused by adenoviruses. It can also be caused by other viruses, including the herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus.

Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can occur along with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as sore throat. Use of contact lenses that are not cleaned properly or aren't your own can cause bacterial conjunctivitis.

Both types are very contagious. It is spread through direct or indirect contact with the liquid that drains from the eye of an infected person. One or both eyes may be affected.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes. It is a response to an allergy-causing substance, such as pollen. In response to allergens, your body produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE triggers special cells in the mucous membranes of the eyes and the respiratory tract to the release of inflammatory substances, including histamine. Your body's release of histamine can produce a number of symptoms of allergy, including the red or the pink in the eye.

If you have allergic conjunctivitis, you may experience intense itching, tearing, and swelling of the eyes. You may also have sneezing and watery nasal discharge. The majority of allergic conjunctivitis can be controlled with allergy eye drops. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.

Conjunctivitis which is the result of irritation

The irritation of a chemical splash or a foreign object in the eye is also associated with conjunctivitis. Sometimes, the washing and the cleaning of the eyes to wash out the chemical or the object that causes redness and irritation. The symptoms, which may include watery eyes and a mucous secretion, they usually disappear on their own within about a day.

If washing does not resolve the symptoms, or if the chemical is a caustic, such as bleach, consult your health care provider or ophthalmologist as soon as possible. A chemical splash in the eye can cause permanent eye damage. Ongoing symptoms may indicate that you still have a foreign body in the eye. Or you could also have a scratch on the cornea, or of the membrane that covers the eyeball, called the conjunctiva.

Risk factors

The risk factors for conjunctivitis include:

  • Exposure to a person infected with the virus or bacteria form of conjunctivitis.
  • The exposure to something that you are allergic to, for allergic conjunctivitis.
  • The use of contact lenses, especially the long-term use of lenses.

Complications

In both children and adults, conjunctivitis can cause inflammation of the cornea that can affect vision. A rapid assessment and treatment by a health care professional can reduce the risk of complications. Check with your professional if you have:

  • Pain in the eyes.
  • A feeling that something is caught in the eye.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Sensitivity to light.

Prevention

The prevention of the spread of conjunctivitis

Good hygiene practices for the control of the spread of conjunctivitis. For example:

  • Don't touch your eyes with your hands.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Use a clean towel every day.
  • Do not share towels or washcloths.
  • Change your pillowcases often.
  • Pot old eye cosmetics, such as mascara.
  • Don't share eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.

Please note that the conjunctivitis is not more contagious than the common flu. It is okay to return to work, to school or child care if you are able to practice good hygiene and avoid close contact. However, if work, school or child care involves close contact with other people, it may be better to stay at home until you or your child's symptoms are gone.

Prevention of conjunctivitis in newborns

The eyes of the newborn are susceptible to the bacteria present in the mother's birth canal. These bacteria often does not cause symptoms in the mother. In some cases, these bacteria can cause babies to develop a severe form of conjunctivitis known as ophthalmia neonatorum. This condition requires immediate treatment to prevent the baby from the view. That's why, shortly after birth, an antibiotic ointment is applied to all newborn babies, eyes. The ointment helps to prevent infection of the eyes.

Diagnosis

In most cases, your health care professional can diagnose pink eye by asking about your recent medical history and symptoms and the examination of their eyes.

Rarely, your health care professional may take a sample of fluid that drains from your eye for laboratory analysis, called culture. A culture may be needed if symptoms are severe or if your care provider suspects a high-risk cause, such as:

  • A foreign body in the eye.
  • A serious bacterial infection.
  • A sexually transmitted infection.

Treatment

Conjunctivitis treatment is usually focused on the relief of symptoms. Your health care professional may recommend:

  • The use of artificial tears.
  • The cleaning of the eyelids with a damp cloth.
  • The application of cold or hot compresses several times a day.

If you wear contact lenses, we will advise you to stop using them until the end of the treatment. Your care provider will likely recommend that you pull soft contacts you have already used.

Disinfect hard lenses overnight before re-use them. Ask your health care professional if you should discard and replace your contact lens accessories such as lens case used prior to or during the disease. Also replace the eye makeup is used prior to her illness.

In most cases, you will not need antibiotic eye drops. From the conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics will not help. They may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future, or causing a drug reaction. In contrast, the virus needs time to run its course. This usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.

Viral conjunctivitis often begins in one eye and then infect the other eye within a couple of days. His symptoms gradually on its own.

Antiviral medications may be an option if the viral conjunctivitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Treatment for allergic conjunctivitis

If the irritation is allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe one of many different types of eye drops for people with allergies. These may include medications that help control allergic reactions, such as antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers. Or to your health care professional may recommend medications to help control inflammation, such as decongestants, steroids, and anti-inflammatory drops.

Without prescription versions of these medications can also be effective. Ask your health care professional about the best option for you.

You could reduce the severity of allergic conjunctivitis symptoms by avoiding what causes the allergies.

Lifestyle and home remedies

To help deal with the symptoms of conjunctivitis until it goes away, try the following:

  • Apply a compress to your eyes. To make a compress, soak a clean cloth, lint-free cloth in water and wring it out before applying it gently to your closed eyelids. Usually, a cool water compress will feel more soft. You can also use a hot compress if that feels better for you. If the conjunctivitis affects only one eye, don't touch the two eyes with the same fabric. This reduces the risk of spread of conjunctivitis in one eye to the other.
  • Try eye drops. Counter eyedrops called artificial tears may relieve symptoms. A few drops containing antihistamines or other medications that can help people with allergic conjunctivitis.
  • Stop using contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop using them until your eyes feel better. How much time you'll have to go without contact lenses depends on the cause of the conjunctivitis. Ask your health care professional if you should throw away your disposable, as well as the cleaning solution and lens case. If your goals are not disposable, clean it thoroughly before re-use.

Preparing for your appointment

Start by seeing your regular health care professional if you have any eye-related signs or symptoms that worry you. If symptoms persist or worsen despite treatment, your health care professional may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and because there is often a lot of ground to cover, it is a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any preappointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as stop using contact lenses or refrain from using eye drops.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking.
  • Write questions during your appointment.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For conjunctivitis, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • What treatments are available?
  • How long will I be contagious after starting treatment?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • I need to go back for a follow up visit?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask for, don't hesitate to ask additional questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may allow time later to cover the points you want to address. You may ask:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Is there something to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Do your symptoms affect one or both eyes?
  • Do you wear contact lenses?
  • How do you clean your contact lenses?
  • How often do you replace your contact lens storage box?
  • He has had contact with someone who has pink eye or symptoms of a cold or the flu?

What you can do in the meantime

Stop wearing contact lenses until you can see your health professional. Wash your hands frequently to reduce the chance of infecting other people. Do not share towels with other people for the same reason.

Symptoms and treatment of pink eye (conjunctivitis)