Conjunctivitis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments

What do you mean by conjunctivitis?

The translucent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball develops a pink eye when it becomes inflamed. We refer to this membrane as the conjunctiva. Small blood vessels in the conjunctiva are more apparent when they are inflamed and swollen. The reddish or pink color of the eye whites is due to this. Additionally known as conjunctivitis, pink eye.

Viral infections are the most frequent cause of pink eye. Additionally, bacterial infections, allergic reactions, and — in infants — partially opening tear ducts can also be responsible for it.

Pink eye might be a pain, but it rarely impairs your eyesight. Pink eye irritation can be reduced with the use of treatments. Receiving an early diagnosis and implementing specific precautions can help minimize the spread of pink eye because it can be contagious.

Pink eye signs

Pink eye can have a variety of different symptoms, but generally speaking, if you start to experience any of the following:

• Reddish or pinkish eyes
• an unpleasant sensation in your eyes
• a wet or thick film that accumulates on your eyes at night.
• ocular irritation
• Excessive amounts of tears

Causes and types:

The pink eye generally falls into one of three categories:

• infectious
• allergic
• chemical

Infectious conjunctivitis

There are several varieties of infectious pink eye, including:

• bacterial
• viral

Staphylococcal or streptococcal germs cause bacterial pink eye. It usually happens as a result of activities like using dirty hands to touch your eyes, sharing makeup, or coming into direct contact with someone who might also have conjunctivitis. Viruses that cause the common cold frequently induce viral pink eye. It could happen if someone nearby sneezes or coughs while suffering from an upper respiratory infection. When you have a cold virus yourself and blow your nose too hard, it might also happen. The infection may spread from your respiratory system to your eyes as a result.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Seasonal allergies are the leading cause of allergic pink eye. If they come into touch with an allergen, such as pollen, they may develop pink eye.

If you wear hard contact lenses or soft contact lenses that aren’t changed frequently enough, you could possibly have large papillary conjunctivitis, an allergic form of pink eye.

Conjunctivitis due to chemicals

Pink eye can be brought on by irritants like:

• pools with chlorine
• exposure to additional substances/ chemicals
• due to air pollution

How easily can pink eye spread?

The contagiousness of bacterial and viral pink eye is high.

Pink eye can spread quickly from one person to another. For instance, there is a possibility that you could contract pink eye if someone with viral pink eye contacts their eye, then touches your hand, and you touch your eyes.

Usually, a person with pink eye is contagious for as long as they are experiencing symptoms.

What are the risk elements?

Pink eye risk factors include:

• exposure to a conjunctivitis sufferer who has a bacterial or viral infection.
• exposure to an allergen, which can cause allergic conjunctivitis.
• wearing contact lenses, especially long-lasting ones.

Complications

Pink eye can induce corneal irritation that can impair vision in both children and adults. The risk of problems might be decreased by your healthcare practitioner evaluating and treating you right away. In the event that you have:

• eye discomfort.
• a sensation that something is impinging on your vision.
• vision that is hazy.
• sensitivity to light.

Prevention

Here is how you can limit the occurrence of pink eye.

Maintaining proper hygiene will help you stop the spread of pink eye. For example:

• Avoid putting your hands near your eyes.
• Regularly wash your hands.
• Use fresh towels and washcloths every day.
• Don’t exchange washcloths or towels.
• Alter your pillowcases frequently.
• Throw away outdated eye makeup, including mascara.
• Never exchange personal eye care or cosmetics.

Pink eye is just as contagious as the typical cold, so keep that in mind. If you can maintain good cleanliness and stay away from close contact, you’re good to go back to work, school, or child care. However, it might be advisable to stay at home until you or your child’s symptoms go away if your job, place of study, or child care requires close contact with others.

How to prevent or avoid pink eye in infants:

Bacteria from the mother’s delivery canal can harm the newborn’s eyes. The mother frequently has no symptoms from these microorganisms. The mother frequently has no symptoms from these microorganisms. Ophthalmia neonatorum, a serious form of conjunctivitis that can affect infants, is often brought on by these germs and requires quick medical attention to prevent vision loss. Every newborn’s eyes are therefore treated with an antibiotic ointment soon after birth. The cream guards against eye infections.

Pink eye is identified/ diagnosed in what way?

Pink eye is often easy for a medical practitioner to identify. By asking you a few questions and examining your eyes, they can typically determine if you have pink eye.

For instance, a medical expert would inquire about your eye itching and whether you have thick or runny discharge. They might also inquire as to whether you have a cold, hay fever, or asthma symptoms.

They might also carry out the following tests:

• a vision test to determine whether your vision has been impacted.
• an examination of the inner eye to ensure no other tissues have been impacted.
• external eye tissue examination, including the conjunctiva, using bright light and magnification.
• conjunctival tissue smear is usually performed when the pink eye is chronic and if the condition is not improving after therapy.

Pink eye treatment

Conjunctivitis treatment is based on the underlying cause:

• Chemical conjunctivitis:

If you have chemical pink eye, one technique to relieve symptoms is to rinse your eye with saline. In severe cases, topical steroids may also be recommended.

• Bacterial conjunctivitis:

Antibiotics are typically used as a therapy for bacterial infections. Typically, adults favor eye drops. Ointment might be a better option for kids because it’s simpler to apply. Your symptoms will likely start to go away quickly after taking antibiotics, but it’s crucial to finish the entire course of treatment to reduce the likelihood of pink eye recurring.

• Viral conjunctivitis

The viruses that frequently cause the common cold also cause viral conjunctivitis. There is presently no cure for these cold viruses, although symptoms are often minor and go away on their own within 7 to 10 days.

Rarely, other viruses that can lead to more severe infections, such as the varicella-zoster virus or herpes simplex virus, may be at play. Antiviral medications are available for these viruses; however, they are exclusively effective against these particular viral illnesses.

In the interim, relieving your symptoms with a warm compress or a cloth dampened with warm water will assist.

• Allergic conjunctivitis:

Your doctor will likely recommend an antihistamine to treat pink eye brought on by an allergy in order to reduce irritation.

The antihistamines loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are sold without a prescription. Your allergy symptoms, such as allergic pink eye, might be relieved by them.

Antihistamine or anti-inflammatory eye drops are examples of additional treatments.

Are there any home remedies?

In addition to applying a warm compress, your neighborhood pharmacy may sell eye drops that resemble your own tears. These might aid in easing the symptoms of pink eye.

Stop using contact lenses altogether until your pink eye is completely healed.

Preventing the spread of the pink eye

If you already have pink eye, take the following precautions to protect your friends and family:

• regular hand washing.
• Never share washcloths or towels.
• Every day, swap out your washcloth and towel.
• Replace eye makeup after your illness has cleared.
• Observe the contact lens care instructions provided by your healthcare provider.
• Take any prescription medication exactly as directed by your doctor.
• To prevent spreading pink eye to others, it’s a good idea to keep your child out of school for at least 24 hours after they begin therapy if they have pink eye.