Conjunctivitis--inflammation of the conjunctiva from infection, irritation, or allergy--is a common eye condition
Conjunctivitis is an irritation of the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that lines the eyelids and outer eye. It is a very common condition, but some people seem to be more susceptible to it than others.
CAUSES
Conjunctivitis can be caused by a number of different agents: infection, allergy, chemical irritants (chlorinated water in a swimming pool, for example, or household cleaning products), or even irritation from eyelashes that have turned inward toward the eye, brushing up against it with every blink.
SYMPTOMS
1. Blurring or misting vision may be a sign of inflammation.
2. You may experience a sensation of having something in your eye when there is actually nothing there.
3. A vague feeling of pain in one eye, especially if the eye is also red, may point to conjunctivitis.
4. Pus may collect in the inner corner of the eye, appearing also as a dried crust in the eye when you awaken.
5. Redness may result from the inflammation of the conjunctiva.
TREATMENT
Many of the symptoms of conjunctivitis can also be associated with other conditions, so you should have your eye checked by a doctor--especially as the appropriate treatment for a case of conjunctivitis will depend on the origin of the condition.
1. If the cause is an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic eyedrops. (Occasionally a case will not respond to such eyedrops. If that happens, you must wait for your body's natural defenses to overcome the infection.)
2. If an allergic response is causing the eye to become irritated, the ovious treatment is to remove the allergen. Of course, the allergen may be either unknown or ubiquitous (as pollen is at certain times of the year), and therefore impossible to remove. Or if a beloved pet is the culprit, you may not be willing to give the animal up. Fortunately, a doctor can prescribe eyedrops to relieve symptoms caused by allergy.
PINK-EYE
Pink-eye is epidemic conjunctivitis, characterized by striking redness in and around the eye, with severe pain, swelling and secretion of pus as the condition progresses. Not only are its symptoms more severe than those of normal conjunctivitis, but it is also highly contagious. Pink-eye should be treated immediately by a doctor, who may also prescribe preventive treatment for those who come in contact with the sufferer.
