You might be tempted to head straight to the doctor if you or your child gets pinkeye. However, you may not have to.
Allergies, viruses, and bacteria can all contribute to pinkeye, also known as conjunctivitis. Your eyes may get red and scratchy on one or both sides. The diseased eye will leak often or have a whitish or yellowish colour. The signs and symptoms might persist for a week, ten days, or even longer, but they might also disappear independently.
Sometimes it's imperative to see a doctor for conjunctivitis (pink eye). But it's not always essential to do this. You can use cold compresses and artificial tears, available over-the-counter without a prescription, to help reduce some of the inflammation and dryness brought on by conjunctivitis. Additionally, you should refrain from using contact lenses until your ophthalmologist gives the all-clear. Wearing contacts is not advised until you are free of pink eye symptoms, even if you do not require medical attention.
Causes & risk factors of conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Allergic conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis comes in three primary varieties: allergic, infectious, and chemical. Depending on the type, conjunctivitis has a variety of causes.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: People with seasonal allergies are likelier to develop allergic conjunctivitis. When they come into contact with something that causes an allergic reaction in their eyes, they develop it.
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis: A persistent foreign body in the eye can lead to allergic conjunctivitis called giant papillary conjunctivitis. This type of conjunctivitis is more common in people who wear stiff or hard contact lenses, soft contact lenses that are not changed frequently, have an exposed suture on the surface of their eyes, have prosthetic eyes, or any of these conditions.
Infectious conjunctivitis
- Bacterial conjunctivitis: Your skin or respiratory system is the most common source of staphylococcal or streptococcal germs that cause bacterial conjunctivitis. Insects can also bring on illness, direct physical contact with another person, poor hygiene (touching the eye with dirty hands), or tainted eye cosmetics and facial moisturizers. Using borrowed or improperly cleaned contact lenses and sharing cosmetics can result in bacterial conjunctivitis.
- Viral conjunctivitis: The most frequent cause of viral conjunctivitis is one of the infectious viruses connected to the common cold. It can manifest after exposure to someone with an upper respiratory tract infection by coughing or sneezing. Viral conjunctivitis may also manifest as the virus travels along the body's own mucous membranes, which connect the lungs, throat, nose, tear ducts, and conjunctiva. Forceful nose blowing might cause a virus to go from your respiratory system to your eyes because tears flow into the nasal passages.
- Ophthalmia neonatorum: A severe type of bacterial conjunctivitis that affects newborn infants is called ophthalmia neonatorum. If this critical ailment is not treated immediately, it could result in irreversible eye damage. When a newborn is exposed to chlamydia or gonorrhoea while transiting through the birth canal, ophthalmia neonatorum develops. Since a few years ago, U.S. delivery rooms have routinely treated babies' eyes with antibiotic ointment as a preventative measure.
Chemical conjunctivitis
Air pollution, pool chlorine, and chemical exposure are some irritants that can cause chemical conjunctivitis.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis
Depending on the underlying reason, conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, can present with various symptoms. Here are a few typical signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis:
- Colour: The colour of the eyes' whites might be pink or red.
- Itching: The affected eye(s) may feel inflamed and itchy.
- Watery eye: Excessive tear production or eye-watering can happen.
- Discharge: In the morning, the eye(s) may produce a crusty or sticky discharge that can make the eyelids stick together. Depending on the aetiology of conjunctivitis, the discharge may be clear, white, yellow, or green.
- Light sensitivity: The affected eye(s) may feel uncomfortable or sensitive to bright lights.
- Air Particles: It could seem like something in the eye, giving off a gritty or sandy sensation or feeling like a foreign body.
- Eyelid swelling: The eyelids may swell or puff up.
- Vision blur: Conjunctivitis can occasionally cause temporary vision problems.
It's crucial to remember that these symptoms can also be related to other eye disorders, so speaking with a healthcare provider for a precise diagnosis and the best course of action is essential.
Diagnosis of Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, often known as pink eye, is normally diagnosed by combining a physical examination, medical history, and occasionally further tests. An outline of the diagnosis procedure is given below:
- Medical background: The doctor will start by questioning your symptoms, including when they started, whether you've had similar episodes, and any known exposure to irritants, allergies, or infected people.
- Physical examination: The doctor will look at your eyes and the areas around them to determine how severe the redness, swelling, discharge, and other symptoms are. They can employ a specialized microscope called a slit light to examine the eye structures more closely.
- Evaluation of symptoms: The medical expert will consider the distinct symptoms you're exhibiting, including itching, discharge, and sensitivity to light, which can assist in identifying the most likely conjunctivitis-causing factor.
- Additional testing: In some circumstances, additional tests may be carried out to support the diagnosis or figure out what is causing conjunctivitis in the first place. These tests could consist of the following:
- Conjunctival swab: You can use a swab to collect a sample of the eye discharge for laboratory testing. It can aid in locating the precise virus or bacteria causing the sickness.
- Testing for allergies: If allergic conjunctivitis is suspected, a medical expert may advise allergy testing to determine the allergens responsible for the disease.
- Visuality test: A visual acuity test may be conducted to evaluate your ability to see clearly if there are concerns about vision loss or blurred vision.
Treatment of conjunctivitis
The three main objectives of conjunctivitis treatment are:
- Comfort the patient more
- Shorten the duration of the infection or inflammation.
- Halt the spread of the infection in conjunctivitis that is infectious.
- The aetiology of conjunctivitis determines the best course of treatment.
An allergic eye condition
Remove or avoid the irritant in the first place, if possible. In moderate situations, artificial tears and cool compresses can sometimes ease discomfort. Antihistamines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed in more serious situations. Topical steroid eye drops might also be necessary for people with persistent allergic conjunctivitis. Additionally, oral antihistamines may be administered.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Antibiotic eye drops or ointments are typically used to treat this conjunctivitis. The symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis may subside after three or four days of treatment, but to avoid recurrence, patients must take the full course of antibiotics. A virus causes conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis cannot be treated with drops or creams. Antibiotics cannot cure a viral infection. The infection must run its course, which could take up to two or three weeks, just like a regular cold. Cool compresses and artificial tear solutions are frequently effective at alleviating symptoms. Topical steroid drops may be used in the worst situations to ease inflammation-related pain. These drops won't, however, stop the virus from spreading. Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), a viral infection, is the red eye most frequently referred to as "pink eye" and is highly contagious.
Chemical conjunctivitis
Chemical conjunctivitis is typically treated by carefully rinsing the eyes with saline. Topical steroids could also be required for those who have chemical conjunctivitis. Alkali burns, in particular, are a medical emergency that can result in scarring, damage to the eye or vision, or even the loss of an eye. Severe chemical injuries are also life-threatening. Before consulting your doctor, flush the eye with water for several minutes if a chemical spills.
While the condition is present, people who wear contact lenses may need to cease wearing them. Optometrists may advise switching to a new brand of contact lenses or disinfectant solution if conjunctivitis is brought on by wearing contact lenses. An optometrist might need to adjust a contact lens prescription that requires more frequent replacement. It may aid in preventing the recurrence of conjunctivitis.
The best approach to preventing conjunctivitis from spreading is to maintain good hygiene. Once an infection has been identified, proceed as follows:
- Keep your hands away from your eyes.
- Always wash your hands completely.
- Avoid sharing your towels and washcloths with anyone else.
- Eye makeup, especially mascara, should be thrown away.
- Use just your own personal eye care and cosmetic products.
Follow the guidelines for proper contact lens care provided by your eye doctor.
Warm compresses can be applied to the affected eye or eyes to ease the discomfort of viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. Warm water should be added to a clean towel to produce a compress, which should then be gently applied to closed eyelids. Keep your eyes from rubbing if you have allergic conjunctivitis. To calm your eyes, apply cool compresses as opposed to heating ones. The use of over-the-counter eye drops could be beneficial. Eye treatments with antihistamines can reduce the symptoms, and eye drops with lubricants can wash the allergen from the eye's surface. If you suspect conjunctivitis, consult your eye doctor. They can make a cause-and-effect determination and recommend the appropriate course of action.
Prevention of conjunctivitis
Prevention is essential to reduce the spread of conjunctivitis, or pink eye. Here are some precautions to take:
- Maintain excellent hygiene: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water before touching your eyes or using eye drops or ointments. Dry your hands with a fresh towel or a disposable tissue.
- Refrain from rubbing or touching: your eyes because doing so can spread germs or viruses from your hands to your eyes.
- Do not share any personal objects: Do not share that come into contact with your eyes, such as towels, washcloths, pillowcases, eye cosmetics, or contact lens covers. The illness might spread if these goods are shared.
- Wear contact lenses: Clean and disinfect them according to the recommended procedures. Avoid wearing contact lenses when you have conjunctivitis because doing so might worsen the condition and delay healing.
- Avoid close contact: When someone in your household or immediate area has conjunctivitis, avoid close contact with them until they are no longer contagious. Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis carry a significant risk of spreading.
- Maintain cleanliness: regularly clean surfaces and items, like eyeglasses, that could come into contact with your face or eyes with soap and water or a suitable disinfectant.
- Wear swim goggles: Protect your eyes from water-borne irritants and possible infections when swimming.
- Manage allergies: If you have allergic conjunctivitis, take precautions to limit your exposure to known allergens and heed the advice of your healthcare provider on how to manage your allergies successfully.
- Maintain workplace hygiene standards: If you operate in a setting with a higher risk of eye infections, such as a hospital or daycare centre, maintain workplace hygiene standards. These standards should include thorough handwashing and disinfection techniques.
Conclusion
Always seek the advice of a medical practitioner for a precise diagnosis and a treatment strategy customized to your individual needs, or call us at Casey Optical Too of the best optometrists in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to schedule your yearly comprehensive eye checkup. Conjunctivitis can also be prevented from occurring and spreading by maintaining proper cleanliness, abstaining from sharing personal objects and taking preventative steps.
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