Conjunctivitis
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What is Conjunctivitis?
Understanding About
Conjunctivitis
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering the eyelid and eyeball. This inflammation causes the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to swell and become irritated, making them more visible and giving the eyes a reddish or pink appearance.
Pink eye is commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections, allergic reactions, or, in infants, an incompletely opened tear duct. While it can be bothersome, pink eyes rarely affect vision.
Treatments are available to alleviate discomfort, and early diagnosis and precautions are recommended to prevent its spread due to its contagious nature.
Symptoms
Treatments
Precautions
Symptoms
Conjunctivitis symptoms include
- Redness in one or both eyes.
- Itchiness in one or both eyes.
- A gritty sensation in one or both eyes.
- Discharge in one or both eyes, forming crust overnight and potentially causing difficulty in opening the eyes in the morning.
- Excessive tearing.
- Sensitivity to light, also known as photophobia.
Treatments
Treatments for Conjunctivitis
- Viral Conjunctivitis: Often resolves on its own. Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops can ease discomfort. Antiviral medications may be prescribed in severe cases.
- Bacterial Conjunctivitis: Treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments to clear the infection and prevent its spread.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis: Avoid allergens and use antihistamine eye drops or oral medications to relieve itching and inflammation. NSAIDs may also help.
- Irritant-Induced Conjunctivitis: Flush the eye with clean water to remove irritants. Seek medical attention for severe cases, especially those involving caustic chemicals.
The choice of surgical technique depends on factors like the type and severity of strabismus, the involved muscles, and desired alignment outcomes.
Precautions
Precautions for Conjunctivitis
- Maintain Good Hygiene: Avoid touching eyes and wash hands frequently.
- Use Personal Hygiene Items: Use clean towels, washcloths, and pillowcases, and avoid sharing them.
- Dispose of Cosmetics: Discard old eye cosmetics and avoid sharing them to prevent transmission.
- Stay Home When Contagious: Avoid close contact and stay home if infected, especially in crowded settings.
- Newborn Prevention: Administer antibiotic ointment to newborns to prevent bacterial conjunctivitis.
- Identify Risk Factors: Be mindful of exposure to infection, allergens, or improper contact lens use.
Types of Conjunctivitis
Different Types of
Conjunctivitis
Before Surgery
During the Surgery
After the Surgery
Before Surgery
How you prepare for Conjunctivitis Surgery
- Monitor Symptoms: Watch for eye pain, blurred vision, or light sensitivity. Seek immediate care if these symptoms arise, potentially indicating the need for surgery.
- Stop Using Contact Lenses: Discontinue contact lens use when pink eye symptoms appear. If symptoms persist after 12 to 24 hours, consult an eye doctor to rule out severe infections related to contact lens wear.
- Confirm Diagnosis: Ensure a confirmed diagnosis of viral, bacterial, allergic, or irritant conjunctivitis through thorough evaluation by an eye specialist.
- Assess Complications: Evaluate for any complications, like corneal inflammation, which may affect vision. Timely treatment by a healthcare provider can mitigate complications.
During the Surgery
How you prepare for Conjunctivitis Surgery
- Confirm Diagnosis: Ensure the type of conjunctivitis is accurately diagnosed before surgery.
- Assess Complications: Evaluate any conjunctivitis-related issues that could affect the surgical procedure.
- Monitor Symptoms: Continuously track symptoms like eye pain or blurred vision during surgery.
- Maintain Hygiene: Follow strict hygiene measures to prevent infections, including instrument sterilization.
- Ensure Comfort: Prioritize patient comfort with appropriate anesthesia and pain management.
- Surgical Technique: Use precise techniques tailored to the specific conjunctivitis type and severity.
After the Surgery
How you prepare for Conjunctivitis Surgery
- Follow-Up Care: Attend post-operative appointments for monitoring and complication assessment
- Symptom Monitoring: Continuously monitor for eye pain, blurred vision, or light sensitivity, reporting any concerns promptly.
- Medication Adherence: Stick to prescribed medications to manage symptoms and prevent infection.
- Hygiene: Maintain good hygiene, avoiding eye contact and using clean towels.
- Eye Protection: Use recommended eye protection to prevent injury during healing.
- Rehabilitation: Consider vision therapy if needed for optimal recovery.
Conjunctivitis FAQs
Conjunctivitis
FAQS
How is conjunctivitis transmitted?
Viruses and bacteria that cause conjunctivitis can be very contagious. Each type of germ can be spread from person-person in different ways. Usually, germs can spread from an infected person to other people through close personal contact (this includes touching or shaking hands), from respiratory droplets through coughing or sneezing, as well as by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with germs, and then touching your eyes before washing your hands.
How is conjunctivitis diagnosed?
A doctor will be able to determine whether the cause of the conjunctivitis is a bacterium, virus or allergen, based on the history, symptoms, and examination. Although not routinely done, your doctor may collect a sample of eye discharge from the infected eye to test for the germ that is causing the conjunctivitis. It is important to note that there may be other causes of the eye symptoms other than conjunctivitis. Your doctor will exclude the following causes that include, but are not limited to, chemical burns, iritis, uveitis, glaucoma and trachoma.
How to prevent conjunctivitis?
Practicing good hand hygiene is important. Disease spread can be limited by washing your hands regularly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, especially before and after cleaning or applying eye drops to your infected eye. You may also use sanitizer with 60% alcohol to clean your hands if soap or water is not available. Avoid touching your eyes and face. Wash all pillowcases, sheets, washcloths, and towels in hot water with detergent. Do not share personal items such as pillows, makeup, or eyeglasses. Do not use swimming pools.
What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?
People with conjunctivitis have a pink or red color of the white of the eye/eyes. There is swelling of the conjunctiva and/or eyelids. Patients can also experience an increased tear production, itching, irritating or a burning sensation. There may be discharge (pus or mucus) as well as crusting of the eyelids or lashes (most commonly in the morning). Depending on the cause of the conjunctivitis, other symptoms may occur.
When to seek medical care?
If your conjunctivitis is associated with any of the following, further medical attention should be sought from a healthcare provider. These include pain in the eye, sensitivity to light or blurred vision that does not improve when discharge is wiped from the eye, intense redness in the eye, symptoms not improving (including bacterial conjunctivitis that does not improve with antibiotics after 24 hours), as well as if you have a weakened immune system (due to HIV infection, cancer treatment or other medical conditions).
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