Conjunctivitis (pink eye)   Home
Bookmark this page

Home

Eye anatomy

Myopia (shortsightedness or nearsightedness)

Contact lenses - types and precautions while using lenses

Eyeglasses, spectacles

Bookmark this page

Conjunctivitis or pink eye is the inflammation of  the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. It extremely contagious and can be spread by air or by touching objects infected by a patient.  Conjunctivitis usually does not cause any long term damage, but causes a lot of discomfort for a short period.

Allergies, bacterial and viral infections are the most common cause of  conjunctivitis. Redness, irritation, watering of  the eyes, itching are symptoms of conjunctivitis caused by bacteria and viruses. There may be no redness for conjunctivitis due to allergies. 

Bacterial conjunctivitis is spread by touch , by insects and sometimes due to cosmetics. A white sticky discharge is produced by the bacteria. This may cause the eyes to stick together, especially while sleeping. This form of conjunctivitis is common during the monsoon in India and very contagious, especially if you used public transport.

Viral conjunctivitis may be caused by the same viruses which cause respiratory infections like cough and cold. There is water discharge and some itching in the eye. It is spread through the air and both eyes may quickly get infected.

Antibiotic eye drops or ointments are used to treat  bacterial conjunctivitis. Usually this conjunctivitis lasts for about 5 days and antibiotic treatment reduce the duration of  the infection by approximately 1 day. There is no treatment for viral infections and it is usually cured within 3 weeks. Cool or warm compresses can reduce the discomfort.  In most workplaces, a person suffering from conjunctivitis will be told to rest at home, to prevent spreading the infection. 

  


© Copyright   NK Infobase