Comprehensive Guide for Preventing and Treating Conjunctivitis

Windy City Retina
3 min readMay 30, 2023

--

Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition that happens because of the inflammation of the membrane also known as conjunctiva that covers the white part of the eye and also the inside of the eyelids. In this condition, the white part of the eye becomes pink or red.

Patients may feel sore, itchy and watery eyes. The patients may also experience white or yellow sticky discharge from the eyes. The eyes look red because of the enlargement of tiny blood vessels in the membrane caused by irritation in the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis can be Allergic, Viral and Bacterial. It can affect people of every age. There are several preventions and treatments for conjunctivitis.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

1. Red and pink eyes are the main symptoms of conjunctivitis.

2. Sore eyes, itching, watering and discomfort are also the main symptoms.

3. Bacterial conjunctivitis may cause a yellow or green sticky pulse-like discharge from the eyes

4. Allergic conjunctivitis may also cause symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing and itchy nose.

Preventions

Conjunctivitis can be often contagious, so anyone with conjunctivitis should take specific precautions so that it cannot affect other people.

1. People with conjunctivitis should practice good hygiene. They should wash their hands frequently with soap and water and use a separate towel for reducing the spreading of conjunctivitis between people.

2. Elderly people should avoid exposure to dusty environments, smoke, chemical fumes and any other irritant that can cause conjunctivitis.

3. Conjunctivitis can be prevented by not sharing towels, pillowcases, wash clothes and eye cosmetics.

4. Regular eye examinations for the elderly for detecting early eye problems and conditions and take proper treatment.

Treatments

In case the conjunctivitis is severe, one should seek medical care. Conjunctivitis can be severe if there is a pain in the eyes, eyes become redder and more sensitive to light and blurred vision.

1. Firstly the eye doctor diagnoses the type of conjunctivitis such as viral, bacterial and allergic and based on the type of conjunctivitis determine the most appropriate treatment.

2. Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated by applying antibiotic eye drops or ointment to the affected eyes. It is recommended to follow this treatment religiously.

3. Viral conjunctivitis doesn’t have any long-term consequences and thus does not require special treatment. Cold compresses and lubricating eye drops can alleviate and relieve symptoms such as redness, discomfort, dryness and discomfort. In case of a more serious form of conjunctivitis, the doctor can prescribe antiviral medications.

4. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated by extracting the allergen from the eye patient’s environment. Antihistamine eye drops and allergy oral medications can be used to provide relief from the effects of allergic conjunctivitis such as itching and inflammation.

5. Other treatments- Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops and applying warm compresses to the affected eye can help relieve symptoms like dryness and discomfort associated with conjunctivitis.

Conclusion — Mild conjunctivitis diagnosed early can be treated easily, however, if it gets severe, the eye patient should consult eye doctor plainfield for appropriate treatment tailored according to the need of the eye problem.

--

--

Windy City Retina
Windy City Retina

Written by Windy City Retina

Windy City Retina: Trusted retina care in Plainfield, IL by Dr. Ankit Desai, board certified ophthalmologist and retina subspecialist. www.windycityretina.com