conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the membrane that covers the inner part of the eyelid known as the conjunctiva. This inflammation can be caused by different origins, such as a virus, bacteria or an allergic reaction, in addition to being damaged by other factors such as smoke or dust. In certain cases, conjunctivitis can have a long duration when some complication occurs, but generally, it is easy to heal if we apply a treatment as soon as it is detected. It is very frequent in children, but it also occurs in adults and can be detected by the reddish color it gives to the eyes, due to inflammation of the blood vessels, in addition to experiencing other symptoms. Do you feel itchy eyes, irritation, burning, rheum or the feeling that you have grains of sand? At ONsalus we will explain the types, symptoms and treatment of conjunctivitis
Types of conjunctivitis
To begin with, we must distinguish the types of conjunctivitis. Each type is caused by a different cause, which will allow the appropriate treatment to be applied. Do not forget that you must go to a doctor so that he can make a diagnosis.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis This is the most common type of conjunctivitis It usually appears in one eye and quickly spreads to the other, experiencing a reddish color in both. The eyes secrete a greater amount of tears, which will make you have to dry them regularly. You may also feel itchy and experience gritty sensations inside your eyes.
- Viral conjunctivitis As in the previous case, it usually appears in one eye and later spreads to the other, presenting a reddish color and the eyelids they may have swelling. These symptoms may be accompanied by sore lymph nodes and fever, as well as sore throat and congestion. This type of conjunctivitis is easily contagious, since no symptoms are detected during the first few days, so no measures are taken to cure it and it can spread with contact with other people. If it goes on for a while, it can cause vision problems, such as blurred vision.
- Allergic conjunctivitis The advantage of this type of conjunctivitis is the knowledge of the cause by the who suffers from it, since people who have allergies, in general, know what it is due to. It is common that it takes place in spring, as a consequence of pollen in the air. The symptoms that are commonly experienced are: itchy eyes, swelling, redness and excessive tearing.
Symptoms associated with conjunctivitis
Although in the previous point we have indicated the symptoms in each type of conjunctivitis, in general, they are usually the same in all the cases:
- Red eyes due to dilated blood vessels.
- Itchy, eye irritation
- Swelling of the eyelids.
- Tearing Excessive.
- Sensation of having grit in the eyes which can become very uncomfortable, especially when the eyes are closed.
- Legañas that usually form during the night and harden.
- Light sensitivity.
- White, yellow, or greenish discharge from the eye.
Normally, symptoms appear quickly, without much time passing between them, so you may have woken up with several of these symptoms when the day before you had the feeling that your eyes were fine. In the event that you have woken up with rheum, it may seem a bit cumbersome because they appear at night and dry up, but with a little water they can be removed.
Treatment of conjunctivitis
The treatment for conjunctivitis will vary depending on the type of conjunctivitis suffered, but we can apply a series of measures in all cases that can help relieve symptoms.
In the case of bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic eye drops are usually the most effective in combating it, in addition to a good eye hygiene. When it comes to viral conjunctivitis, prevention of transmission is important, since It is easily contagious, so frequent washing with water should be carried out and avoid contact of our hands with our eyes. This can be difficult because if we experience itchiness we will tend to touch our eyes. Finally, allergic conjunctivitis usually goes away on its own after a period of time that can vary, but to relieve its symptoms you can apply a cold compress directly to closed eyes. For both viral and allergic conjunctivitis, the best treatment is the use of corticosteroid eye drops, except when a herpes infection has occurred. Treatment usually lasts more than a week.
In all cases, it is very important to maintain good hygiene of our hands to avoid contagion to other people. We can carry hand-held alcohol in case we find ourselves away from home.
When to go to the doctor?
Conjunctivitis is initially not a serious problem and usually goes away within a few days on its own. However, on some occasions there may be more bothersome symptoms or some factors to take into account, so we give some recommendations on when to go to the doctor:
- Light sensitivity.
- Blurry vision.
- Excessive redness of the eyes.
- Strong eye pain.
- Suffering from a disease that leads to a weakened immune system, such as HIV.
- If symptoms worsen or no improvement is felt within 24 hours of starting treatment, in cases of bacterial and viral conjunctivitis.
- Some previous eye infection.
Other eye conditions with similar symptoms include stye or itchy eyes.
This article is merely informative, at ONsalus.com we do not have the authority to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the event of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
