Causes and Treatment of Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, otherwise called pinkeye, is nothing but the swelling of the clear, thin tissue or conjunctiva which lines the inside of the eyelid and lies above the white part of the eye.

Causes for Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is caused by various factors such as viruses, bacteria such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, irritants such as dirt, smoke, shampoos, chlorine and dust. Pollen allergies can also affect those wearing contact lenses. Virus and bacteria induced conjunctivitis can spread easily and if diagnosed properly will not be a serious health risk.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

Depending on the cause of the inflammation, the symptoms of conjunctivitis vary widely. Some of the symptoms include redness in the inner eyelid or white of the eye. Thick yellow discharge, excess tear formation, white or green discharge from the eye, burning or itchy eyes, sensitivity to light etc are the other common symptoms.

Treatment

If you suffer from any of the aforesaid symptoms of conjunctivitis, you can see your doctor. He will check the sample fluid collected from the eyelid and confirm the presence of this condition in you easily. Proper treatment can be prescribed based on the cause of conjunctivitis. If the condition is caused by allergy, it could be cured by following the treatment of allergy. You can use water to wash the irritant away if conjunctivitis is caused by an irritating substance. If this condition is caused by viruses, then this form of conjunctivitis will take its course and will be cured in 4-7 days. In the case of bacteria induced conjunctivitis, you can treat it with antibiotics which may take the form of ointments, eyedrops or pills.

In order to get relief from the symptoms of conjunctivitis, you must avoid use of makeup and protect your eyes from irritants. If you wear contact lens you must remove them. You may also be prescribed with “artificial tears,” which can help you be free of burning and itching caused by irritants.