Conjunctivitis

It is the inflammation of the outer membrane of the eyeball and inner eyelid. It can be viral/bacterial/allergic.

Symptoms

• Symptoms include redness, itchiness, gritty feeling in eyes, discharge that forms crust during night, makes eye opening difficult in the morning vision is usually normal.
• It is contagious and spreads by contact with eye secretion for allergic conjunctivitis
• Good hygiene controls the spread of infection.
• Some precautions include not touching eyes with hands, frequent washing of hand, using clean water and towels and not sharing eye cosmetics.

Treatment

• It includes artificial tears, cleaning eyelids with wet cloth. Applying warm compresses several times a day, stopping contact lens wear till symptoms have settled.
• Antihistamines and anti-inflammatory eye drops may be helpful in allergic conjunctivitis.
• Antibacterial/antiviral eye drops can be used for bacterial/viral conjunctivitis respectively.