Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis – General Information

Conjunctivitis (also known as “Pink-Eye”, “Madras Eye” or blood shot eyes) is the inflammation of the transparent membrane, called conjunctiva (the conjunctiva is the outer layer of the eye and the inner zone of the eyelids) due to an allergic reaction or an infection which can be bacterial or viral.
Conjunctivitis usually makes the patients feel as if they have something in the eyes that they just can not remove. In the morning usually the eyes seen pasted due to the discharge from the eyes. The white part of the eye can begin to have a pink color and the patients do not see as well as before the infection.
The inflammation usually causes the blood vessels localized in the conjunctiva to be more prominent, this is why the eyes may have a pink discoloration. Even though this medical disorder is an irritating condition which brings discomfort among other problems, this disease rarely affects the person’s sight.
Here are some of the causes for the appearance of this medical disorder:

• Viruses
• Bacteria – such as staphylococci, streptococci or haemophilus.
• Irritating substances such as dirt, smoke, pool chlorine, shampoo, etc.
• Diseases which are sexually transmitted.
• Different allergens
• Trees
• Grass
• Weed pollens
• Mold spores
• House dust
• Another cause may be the existence of a foreign object in the eye.
• In a pregnant woman a cervical infection (chlamydia, gonorrhea or genital herpes) can lead to a blinding Conjunctivitis in the new born.
• Air pollution or chemical irritants may lead to it
• A partially blocked tear duct is a possible cause
• Scents
• Cosmetics, eye make-up, eye-drops, and other chemicals

There are more types of this medical disorder, as following: viral, chlamydia, bacterial, reactive and Allergic.

Conjunctivitis – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Conjunctivitis) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed (mentioned) here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Conjunctivitis or from any other medical disorder. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that a person who suffers from Conjunctivitis, may experience:

• Blurred vision
• Burning eyes
• Scratchy feeling in the eye
• Puslike or even watery discharge
• Eye pain
• Crusts which form on the eyelids
• Redness in the white of the eye
• Redness on the inner eyelid
• Increased amount of tears
• Sensitivity to light
• Green or white discharge from the eye
• Irritation
• Distressingly
• Allergic disease:
• Intense itching of the eyes
• Stringy discharge
• Chlamydial disease:
• Redness of the eyes
• Sticky discharge
• The cornea can be affected
• The eyes are intermittently red
• Viral disease:
• Redness of the eyes
• Watery discharge
• Discomfort of the eyes
• Tender lymph nodes around the ear and neck
• It may affect the cornea
• Bacterial disease :
• Sticky discharge
• Redness of the eyes
• Discharge on the eyelashes

In the case in which you have any of the symptoms listed above, it is best to see you doctor. He will examine your eyes and take a fluid sample from the eyelid and send it to the laboratory for further investigations. After the results come from the laboratory he can prescribe you a specific treatment.

Conjunctivitis – Treatment

You doctor or health care provider may tell you what the cause of the Conjunctivitis is, only from the symptoms the patient has and an examination. The doctor can shine a light in the patient’s eyes in order to see the reaction. He will also take some swabs from the eyes in order to test it for bacteria and he can also recommend the patient to see an ophthalmologist. The eye irritation can be relieved bathing with special preparations which are found in pharmacies. Doctor recommends the patients to abstain from rubbing the eyes, because this usually makes the inflammation worse. In the bacterial Conjunctivitis it is better to avoid touching the affected eye, in order not to spread the infection to the healthy eye.  In the case of the allergic Conjunctivitis the most important step in treating the eyes is to avoid the sources of the allergy and this is easy when the allergy is produced by animal fur or cosmetics, but it is difficult when the principal cause is the pollen. But if the patients try to keep the windows and doors closed during the days when the pollen count, they can reduce the symptoms.

The bacterial Conjunctivitis is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and ointment which can be obtained if the patient has a prescription from the doctor. The viral Conjunctivitis does not need a specific treatment as it clear up by itself in a few weeks (no more than three weeks). The allergic form of this disease is usually treated with eye drops (such as Optrex Allergy or Opticrom Allergy) which contain sodium cromoglicate. This can be obtained with a prescription from the doctor. These drops must be applied to both eyes four times per day.