What is conjunctivitis?
It is a common disease of the outer layer of the eye. It can be caused by infection (bacteria, viruses, other organisms) as well as by allergies or inflammation. The outer layer of the eye is called the conjunctiva and forms a thin, transparent layer over the white of the eye and under the eyelids. Conjunctivitis causes redness of the eye, which often becomes sticky or watery, usually in the mornings. When the cause is an infection, conjunctivitis may coexist with the typical symptoms of an infection, such as a sore throat and malaise.
Causes
It is often difficult to pinpoint the source of the initial infection, but patients with conjunctivitis should be aware that it is highly contagious and spreads extremely quickly through droplets or contact with items like tissues, compresses, towels, pillowcases, etc., that the patient has already used. Therefore, frequent handwashing and the disposal of used tissues are recommended to prevent the disease from spreading to family members or colleagues of the patient.
Treatment
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will take a swab from the front part of the eye using special cotton. The results may take a few weeks to come back, and the doctor will inform you if the treatment being administered should change.
Viral Conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is characterized by a watery red eye as the main symptom and can last for several weeks even with appropriate treatment. It rarely affects vision but can cause blurriness, especially when looking at light. This is due to an inflammatory reaction, which is localized on the surface of the eye, causing subconjunctival hemorrhages. These symptoms will improve over time (it may take several weeks for them to resolve). Steroid eye drops are rarely administered (in severe cases of viral conjunctivitis). There is no antibiotic treatment for viral conjunctivitis, and it is not affected by the use of antibiotic eye drops since it is not caused by bacteria. The best treatment is frequent use of artificial tears and simple pain relievers, as well as frequent eyelid cleaning with cold compresses.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Common symptoms include redness of the eye and the discharge of yellowish fluid. Antibiotic eye drops can help, and treatment usually lasts one to two weeks.
Patients with any type of conjunctivitis should not wear contact lenses.
