Conjunctivitis, also known as ‘pink eye’, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball). Conjunctivitis is often referred to as ‘pink eye’ because it can cause the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become swollen and irritated, making the whites of your eye appear pink. In addition, conjunctivitis can produce a sticky discharge in your eyes which can be extremely irritating. However, the condition very rarely affects your vision. Conjunctivitis is very common, as some types of the condition are highly contagious.
Conjunctivitis
Also known as: Pink eye, Viral conjunctivitis, Bacterial conjunctivitis, Irritant conjunctivitis
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Conjunctivitis symptoms
The main symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
- Red eyes
- Discharge in your eyes that may form a crust overnight and prevent your eyes from opening in the morning
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
- The feeling that something is in your eye or a gritty feeling in your eye
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Burning eyes
- Pain in your eyes
The four main types of conjunctivitis are:
- Bacterial conjunctivitis – this form is highly contagious and results in sore, red eyes with a lot of sticky discharge
- Viral conjunctivitis – this type is also very contagious and causes burning, red eyes with watery discharge
- Allergic conjunctivitis – this type isn’t contagious and results in watery, itchy, red eyes
- Irritant conjunctivitis – this type also isn’t contagious and produces sticky discharge
What causes conjunctivitis?
The causes of conjunctivitis (pink eye) depend on the specific type of conjunctivitis you have:
- Bacterial conjunctivitis – this is caused by an infection from bacteria. Sometimes, this is the same bacteria that causes strep throat (a bacterial throat infection). Children are most likely to catch bacterial conjunctivitis, since they don’t always tend to practise good hygiene
- Viral conjunctivitis – this form is usually caused by the same virus that causes the common cold. While viral conjunctivitis can particularly impact people who are on immunosuppressant therapy (e.g., after an organ transplant or to treat an autoimmune disease), children are the most likely group to be affected by the condition.
- Allergic conjunctivitis – this type is caused by an allergic reaction to something in the environment, such as pollen, animals, cigarette smoke, chlorine and car fumes. If you have hay fever or a family history of allergies, you are likely to be more susceptible to allergic conjunctivitis
- Irritant conjunctivitis – this type is caused by irritants, such as grit, smoke or chlorine, or by an abrasion or blunt trauma to the eye
Are there any home remedies for conjunctivitis?
Yes, if you’re looking for ways to soothe conjunctivitis (pink eye), you can try:
- Not wearing contact lenses until all signs of inflammation have gone
- Cleaning your eyes regularly with cotton wool and cooled water that’s been boiled
- Avoiding rubbing your eyes
- Placing a cool, wet cloth on your eyes
How long does it take to recover from conjunctivitis?
Depending on your symptoms and the type of conjunctivitis and treatment you have, conjunctivitis usually clears up in around two weeks. In most cases, conjunctivitis poses no serious threat to your eye health, and complications of conjunctivitis are extremely rare.
How can I stop conjunctivitis from spreading?
The main way to stop conjunctivitis from spreading is to practise good hygiene. This can include:
- Washing your hands regularly
- Avoiding touching your eyes
- Using a clean towel every day
- Not sharing towels with other people
- Throwing away eye cosmetics you may have used before you realised you had conjunctivitis, such as mascara
- Not sharing eye cosmetics with other people
- Changing your pillowcases regularly
Conjunctivitis treatments
Treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the type of conjunctivitis you have. However, in most cases, the treatments your doctor recommends will be focused on reducing the symptoms, rather than trying to cure the condition.
These may include:
- Using artificial tears to soothe your eyes
- Using antibiotic eye drops to treat a bacterial infection
- Using antihistamines to control an allergic reaction
When to see a consultant?
Mild cases of conjunctivitis (pink eye) should clear up on their own. However, if you wear contact lenses, you should book an appointment to see an optometrist to make sure that you don’t have a more serious infection related to contact lens use.
More serious conditions, such as keratitis, can also be mistaken for conjunctivitis. As a result, even if your case is mild, you should book an appointment with an eye doctor immediately to make sure that the symptoms above aren’t a sign of something more serious.
In addition, if you have a newborn with signs of conjunctivitis, you should book them in to see a doctor straight away, as it could permanently damage their vision.
Conjunctivitis diagnosis
To diagnose conjunctivitis, an ophthalmologist will take a history of your health, including any allergies you may have and whether you’re taking any immunosuppressant medications.
They will then conduct a thorough examination of your eyes. This will include using a tool called a slit-lamp that consists of a microscope and a beam of light which enables them to examine your conjunctiva.
To help them do this, your eye doctor may also put a yellow dye, called fluorescein, into your eye. This will allow them to check whether the condition has caused or been caused by any damage to your eye.
Occasionally, a doctor may take a sample of the fluid that drains from your eye and send it to a lab for analysis. They are more likely to do this if they suspect the conjunctivitis has a high-risk cause, such as a foreign body in your eye, or a serious bacterial or sexually transmitted infection.
If you want to be assessed for conjunctivitis, book an appointment with one of the specialists at The London Clinic Eye Centre today.
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