The inflammation of the delicate membrane forming a thin, transparent covering across the eye is called conjunctivitis. This disease is commonly called “Pink Eye” and “Red Eye” in the UK, and “Madras Eye” in India due to it symptoms. In conjunctivitis, the conjunctiva is inflamed, mostly as a result of an allergic reaction or a bacterial or viral infection.
Conjunctivitis Types
Some of the variant forms of this disease are
Blepharoconjunctivitis—a combination of conjunctivitis with blepharitis or the inflammation of the eyelids.
Keratoconjunctivitis—a combination of conjunctivitis and keratitis or corneal inflammation.
Episcleritis—an inflammatory condition that is similar in appearance to conjunctivitis, but with no discharge or tearing.
Causes of Conjunctivitis
The main cause for conjunctivitis is viral infection. Allergies also cause conjunctivitis. In the newborn babies, conjunctivitis is caused due to bacterial infections that they might pick up from the mother during pre natal stage or during the birth process. Gonorrhoea, herpes, and Chlamydia passed on during birth, may be more damaging.
Household chemicals, grit and the plant allergens are the common irritants causing conjunctivitis. Depending on the etiology, some forms of conjunctivitis are extremely contagious, while some are harmless.
Conjunctivitis Symptoms
The general symptoms of conjunctivitis are as follows:
Redness of the conjunctiva
Sore eyes
Itching and burning sensation in the eyes
Pain in the eyes
Headaches
Discharge of white or yellow sticky pus
Glues eyelids after sleep
Infection of upper respiratory tract, sore throat, etc in case of viral conjunctivitis.
Generally, the children are more prone to conjunctivitis than adults.
Diagnosis
Relatively non-specific symptoms are seen in conjunctivitis. Biomicroscopy, laboratory tests are needed sometimes to correctly identify the ailment. The bacterial infection is strongly suggested by a purulent discharge in the patient who is afflicted with this malaise. The only other circumstance where this is true is toxin exposure. If the discharge is particularly thick and copious, Neisseria gonorrhea infection should be suspected.
A viral cause is suggested by a diffuse looking conjunctivitis (pink in color rather than red). This is especially true if numerous follicles are observed on the lower tarsal conjunctiva on biomicroscopy examination. If the tarsal conjunctiva is scarred or there is corneal vascularization, it can lead to trachoma. Symptoms including pain, blurring of vision and photophobia are the common characteristics that help a medical practitioner identify conjunctivitis. In most cases the diagnosis in general is done based on the symptoms.
Conjunctivitis Treatment
The doctors need to confirm conjunctivitis first. Generally laboratory tests are not needed and conjunctivitis can be treated empirically. But in severe cases, tests are needed. For such tests, swabs are collected for bacterial culture if the symptoms suggest a bacterial cause. Tests of conjunctivitis are also useful in detecting other diseases like Chlamydia, Allergy, dysplasia, etc.
Then there are certain methods that can be followed as a process of treatment of conjunctivitis. Antibiotic or any form of medicine rarely works for conjunctivitis, especially the viral one. Therefore these types of medicines are not prescribed nowadays. However for allergic conjunctivitis, and the bacterial ones, medicines are prescribed sometimes. Usually complications are extremely rare for viral conjunctivitis. They generally last for a week and then clear away themselves. They are as follows:
Splashing clean cold water on the eyes and clearing them repeatedly (especially with newborn babies).
Avoid touching the eyes with unwashed hands.
Avoid too much stress on the eyes.
Avoid pollution.
Antibiotics are recommended for infections that last for more than two weeks.
Gently washing the eye and the eye lashes with cooled boiled water in case of allergic conjunctivitis.
Anti-inflammatory eye drops in case of allergic conjunctivitis.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and antihistamines may be prescribed in more severe cases.
Topical steroid drops for persistent allergic conjunctivitis.
Cold compress and artificial tears for viral conjunctivitis.
Avoidance of the use of towels, clothes, etc of the patient till he is fully recovered.
