Conjunctivitis Treatment, Caused and Symptoms

Conjunctivitis Treatment - Allergic means that there is an allergic reaction. Conjunctivitis is the top layer that covers the white part of your eyes. Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eyes commonly known as "pink eye". It is most often caused by a virus but can also be caused by bacteria. Allergic conjunctivitis means that there is an allergic reaction on the surface of the eyes.

 

Symptoms of the eye include:

• Redness, irritation, itchiness; may produce lots of tears
• Clear or yellow discharge that may make the eyelids stick together, especially in the morning
• Swelling of eyelids

How does it happen?

When your eyes have contact with an allergen, you will get allergic conjunctivitis. Allergens are things that your body thinks is harmful.  Some examples are pollen, animal dander, smoke, or perfume.

Allergies are common, but not everybody has them.  Allergies tend to run in families and they may get better or worse with time. Sometimes stress can make you more sensitive to allergens.

Allergens may be in the air, such as smoke, pollen, or animal dander. Allergens may be on your hands and get into your eyes when you touch them.

What might I feel or see? 

Both eyes usually have symptoms. If you rubbed or touched one eye, then only one eye may be affected. Your eyes may be red, burning, itching, or watery. Your eyelids may be swollen or the skin around the eyes is red and scaly. 

The tears or the discharges from the eye are infectious

People can get conjunctivitis by coming into contact with the tears or discharges from the eyes of an infected person and then touching their own eyes. Also conjunctivitis, when associated with an upper respiratory infection (common cold), can be spread by droplets (e.g., coughing, sneezing).

Anyone can get conjunctivitis

Preschoolers and school-age children get it most often because of crowding and lack of good hand washing and hygiene.

Conjunctivitis is usually a mild illness

Viral conjunctivitis will go away by itself in one to six weeks. Yellow pus may be a sign of infection by bacteria. 

Symptoms suggesting a more severe eye infection include:

• Severe eye pain
• Change in vision
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• Marked heat & swelling of eyelids

An eye medication is available

• Doctors may give an eye medication depending on the cause of the infection.
• Keeping the eyelid clean and lubricating the eye with drops may decrease discomfort until the infection is gone.

Conjunctivitis Treatment

• Stay away from things that cause the allergy.

• Do not rub your eyes.

• Use cold packs on your eyes three to four times a day. You can use a jar of ice water or a cold can pressed against the closed eye until it is numb.

• Most eye drops do not help. These mostly work to wash away the allergen. Your health care provider can help you find an eye drop that might work for you.

• Many over-the-counter pills can help. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist to see what one is best for you.

 People with conjunctivitis should:

• Wash their hands after touching or wiping their eyes.
• Avoid touching other people unless hands are freshly washed.
• Throw away or carefully wash items that touch their eyes.
• Not share eye makeup or other items used on their eyes (for example, towels, or tissues).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Consult your doctor in case medication is needed.
• See a doctor if the eye discharge is yellow, if the eye or eyelid is red, or if the symptoms don’t start improving after 2-3 days. See a doctor immediately if the symptoms suggest a more severe infection.
• Be excluded from school and child care settings until cleared by a physician that it is not contagious, or until symptoms have resolved, whichever is earlier. 

Adapted from: http://www.med.navy.mil

                        http://www.ihs.gov

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