An inflammation of the conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis. The conjunctiva is the transparent mucous membrane that lines the outer surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. Any infections, bacterial or viral, or even allergies can make the conjunctiva red and swollen. This article will highlight the key points of conjunctivitis prevention and treatment.
Conjunctivitis: Causes
Infective conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis: Symptoms
• Redness and watering of the eyes
• Green or yellow discharge from eyes in case of infection; “ropy” colorless discharge in case of allergic conjunctivitis.
• Matting of eyelashes, and inability to open eyes on waking up
• Sore eyes with sensitivity to light
Conjunctivitis Treatment
Infective Conjunctivitis
• The treatment of viral conjunctivitis is mainly supportive. To ensure your comfort, your doctor will prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops, as well as lubricating eye drops.
• On the other hand, if you have a bacterial infection, your doctor will also prescribe antibiotic drops in addition to the above mentioned eye drops. Additionally, your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops even for viral conjunctivitis. She will only do so if she thinks you might get a super added bacterial infection.
Allergic conjunctivitis
• Your eye doctor will prescribe anti allergic eye drops, which are the mainstay of treatment. In addition, you may be given anti-inflammatory eye drops and tear supplements.
• Normally, most doctors do not prescribe antibiotics for allergic conjunctivitis.
Role of steroids
• Your eye doctor may prescribe steroid eye drops in case of severe conjunctivitis. This may be true foe both, infective or allergic.
• Steroids are a double edged sword. So, make sure you strictly follow your doctor’s instructions. Which means, you must use the drops exactly as advised, in terms of the number of times it must be used, and only for the number of days prescribed.
• Most doctors will taper the dose of steroid eye drops, that is, withdraw them gradually.
• Make sure you do not miss your follow up visit since steroids can lead to potentially serious side effects like glaucoma.
Conjunctivitis: Precautions
Do’s
• Make sure your hands are clean. Also, ensure that you never touch your eyes and face without washing your hands with soap and water. This way you will not pass on the infection to others. In fact, remember to wash your hands before and after touching your face and eyes.
• In fact, contact your doctor in case of redness of eyes, since it can be due to various causes, some of which may be serious. This is especially true in case the redness is accompanied by any decrease in vision or any eye swelling.
Dont’s
• Do not rub your eyes. This can cause further irritation, and also transfer germs and dirt from your hands to the eye.
• Do not use ginger juice, honey or other products as eye cleansers.
• Do not splash water into the eye. In case something falls in your eye, gently open your eyes in to drinking water held in cupped hands.
• Do not self-medicate.
• Do not rely on quacks, or home remedies. They can often cause complications.
• Do not wear contact lenses until your doctor allows you to. In fact, at the first instance of any redness in or around your eye, you should take off your contact lenses and wear glasses instead. However, you must preserve your lens and the lens case with solution. Your doctor may ask for it. These may then be evaluated for any bacterial contamination, in some cases.
• Do not use any eye makeup during the infection. You must discard all your eye makeup and brushes, in case you’ve been using them during an eye infection.
Conjunctivitis: Prevention
Do’s
• Do not share your cosmetics. This is especially true for eye makeup like mascara, kajal and eyeliner.
• Do not share your towels or handkerchiefs.
• Do not share your eye drops. Never use eye drops past their date of expiry. Remember, any eye drops that have been opened more than a month ago must be discarded.
Don’ts
• Be extra careful with your contact lenses. Make sure you wear your lenses for the prescribed duration only, and change your lens solution every day. Lens cases must be discarded after every two to three months, and must be washed thoroughly with lens solution and air dried.
• Protect your eyes from dust and pollutants. Use protective glasses (wraparound glasses) when you go outside. In case of days when there is a pollution warning, try and spend more time indoors.
• Make sure you are not exposed to hazardous chemical fumes. In case your work involves handling chemicals, make sure you use the protective eye wear. Keep any chemicals and household cleaning agents like bleach and disinfectant out of reach of little children.
• If you have noticed a cyclical pattern to your eye allergies (most people experience an acute attack during spring or summer) talk to your doctor. She may discuss anti-allergy prophylaxis with you, to help prevent eye allergies.
Self-Medication for Red Eye
Avoid self-medication whenever possible.
You may use over the counter lubricating eye drops safely. Make sure you buy eye drops from a reputable company. Make sure your eye drops do not contain any preservative.
Avoid the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
Stay away from steroid drops unless prescribed by an eye specialist. In India, most steroids are available over the counter. Moreover, they are cheap and cause an instant relief. Therefore, unscrupulous pharmacists are happy to give you one, without a prescription also.
Be wary of drops which have a suffix of –one, -DX, -H. These generally contain steroids. Look into the contents at the back. The following drugs are steroids. You must never use them without strict medical supervision:
Prednisolone
Hydrocortisone
Dexamethasone
Flouromethalone
Loteprednol
