Conjunctivitis

What is conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that lines the layers of the eyelids, the anterior aspect of the eyeball and the eye sockets. Its basic function is to protect the surfaces it covers, so when an infection occurs, it tends to become inflamed.

The main types of conjunctivitis, according to their cause, are:

• Viral conjunctivitis
• Bacterial conjunctivitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, in general, does not affect the eyesight. Infectious conjunctivitis is easily spread from person to person.

Prognosis of the disease

It usually affects both eyes at the same time, although it may affect one eye more than the other.

It lasts approximately 10 days to 4 weeks and is a very common condition, especially in children, including newborns.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis

The most common symptoms of conjunctivitis are:

• Redness
• Burning
• Strange sensation in the eye
• Appearance of yellow or green mucous membranes, especially on the eyelashes. These symptoms also occur very frequently in cases of allergy.

Conjunctivitis affects both eyes at the same time, although it may affect one eye more than the other.

Medical tests for conjunctivitis

To determine if a patient has conjunctivitis, the doctor will examine the patient’s eyes for signs of conjunctivitis, such as small bumps on the inner surface of the eyelids. Some specific tests that are performed are:

• Analysis of lacrimal secretion: this allows the inflammatory cells involved in conjunctivitis to be counted.
• Assessment of visual acuity

What are the causes of conjunctivitis?

The causes can be:

• Viral infection: causes viral conjunctivitis, is very contagious, but usually disappears on its own in a few days, without the need for medical treatment.
• Bacterial infection: causes bacterial conjunctivitis, which can cause serious damage to the eye if left untreated.
• Allergies: causes allergic conjunctivitis, which is caused by eye irritants such as pollen, dust, animal dander in susceptible individuals. This type of conjunctivitis may be seasonal (pollen) or appear in outbreaks throughout the year (dust and pet dander).
• Substances that cause irritation.
• Products used for contact lenses, eye drops or ointments.

Can it be prevented?

Simple precautions can be taken on a day-to-day basis to significantly reduce the risk of conjunctivitis:

1. Do not share personal hygiene items such as washcloths, hand towels and tissues.
2. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, and avoid rubbing or touching your eyes.
3. Never share colored contact lenses or special effect lenses.
4. Wash your hands frequently.
5. Carry hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it frequently.
6. Keep surfaces such as kitchen tables, bathroom utensils, faucets and shared telephones sanitary with an appropriate antiseptic cleaner.
7. If you have seasonal allergies, ask your health care provider what can be done to minimize symptoms before they begin.
8. If you wear contact lenses, make sure you follow the advice of your optometrist or ophthalmologist for their care and replacement.
9. Swimming goggles are recommended to protect your eyes from bacteria or other microorganisms in the water that can cause conjunctivitis.
10. Remove contact lenses to avoid retaining bacteria between your eyes and the lenses before showering, using a hot tub or getting in water of any kind.

Treatments for conjunctivitis

Depending on the type of conjunctivitis you should take one type of treatment or another:

• Viral conjunctivitis: In most cases, viral conjunctivitis will run its course over a period of a few days without the need for medical treatment. A home remedy is to apply cold wet cloths to the eyes several times a day to relieve symptoms. It is important not to share the cloths, as viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious in nature.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis: Antibiotic eye drops or ointments will usually be prescribed for the treatment of this type of conjunctivitis.
• Allergic conjunctivitis: Anti-allergic medications usually help prevent or shorten allergic conjunctivitis flare-ups.

Which specialist treats it?

Ophthalmology specialists are in charge of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases that affect the eyes and the patient’s visual capacity, such as conjunctivitis. The eyes are the essential organ of vision and are susceptible to many abnormalities throughout life. Ophthalmology is in charge of preserving the patient’s visual capacity, through medical treatment techniques, surgery or with the help of external elements such as glasses or contact lenses.