What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common and treatable eye
infections in children and adults. Often called "pink eye," it is
an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that lines the
inside of the eyelid. This tissue helps keep the eyelid and eyeball
moist.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by a virus, bacteria, irritating
substances (shampoos, dirt, smoke, and especially pool chlorine),
allergens (substances that cause allergies) or sexually transmitted
infections (STIs). Pink eye caused by bacteria, viruses, and STIs
can spread easily from person to person, but is not a serious
health risk if diagnosed promptly.
What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?
- Redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid
- Greater amount of tears
- Thick yellow discharge that crusts over the eyelashes,
especially after sleep (in conjunctivitis caused by bacteria)
- Other discharge from your eye (green or white)
- Itchy eyes (especially in conjunctivitis caused by
allergies)
- Burning eyes (especially in conjunctivitis caused by chemicals
and irritants)
- Blurred vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
See your ophthalmologist (a doctor trained to treat eye
conditions) or family doctor if you have any of these persistent
symptoms. Ear infections also commonly occur in children who have
bacterial conjunctivitis. The ophthalmologist will examine your
eyes and possibly take a sample of fluid from the eyelid with a
cotton swab. Bacteria or viruses that may have caused
conjunctivitis can then be seen through a microscope.
How is conjunctivitis treated?
- Bacteria
Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics, a
type of medicine prescribed by your doctor. The antibiotic can be
given as eye drops, ointments, or pills. Eye drops or ointments may
need to be applied to the inside of the eyelid three to four times
a day for five to seven days. It may be difficult to apply
ointments inside of a child's eye. If the ointment gets as
far as the eyelashes, it will most likely melt and enter the eye.
Pills may need to be taken for several days. The infection should
improve within a week. Take the medicine as instructed by your
doctor, even if the symptoms go away. - Virus
Medicine cannot treat conjunctivitis caused by a virus. This type
of conjunctivitis often results from a common cold. Just as a cold
must run its course, so must this form of conjunctivitis, which
will last from 4 to 7 days. You may, however, help relieve symptoms
by applying a cold compress. - Irritating substance
To treat this type of conjunctivitis, use warm water for five
minutes to wash the irritating substance from the eye. You should
also avoid further exposure to the irritating substances. Your eyes
should begin to improve within four hours after washing away the
substance. If they do not, call your doctor. - Allergies
Allergy-associated conjunctivitis should be evaluated by your
ophthalmologist and an allergist. It may disappear completely when
the allergy is treated with antihistamines or the when the allergen
is removed. Relieve symptoms temporarily by applying a cold
compress on closed eyes. - Ophthalmia neonatorum and STIs
The same bacteria that causes the sexually transmitted infections
chlamydia and gonorrhea can also infect the conjunctiva. This is
called ophthalmia neonatorum and is most commonly spread during
birth as the infant passes through the birth canal of an infected
mother. Newborns are usually given eye drops immediately after
birth to treat any possible infection.