It occurs more commonly among those who already suffer from seasonal allergies or allergies to substances such as pets or dust. The allergic symptoms in the eyes may be just one aspect of their overall allergic reaction. First of all, to treat allergic conjunctivitis, the irritant itself needs to be removed. Use cool compresses and artificial tears to alleviate discomfort in mild cases. In more severe cases, your eye doctor might give you a prescription for an anti-inflammatory or antihistamine.
When the pink eye persists for a long time, steroid eye drops may be tried. With any case conjunctivitis, making sure to practice good hygiene is the first rule of thumb. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently and don't touch your eyes with your hands.
Recovery time for conjunctivitis can range from a few days to a few weeks. It depends on the type you have, how severe it is and when you begin treatment if needed. If you wear contact lenses , remove your lenses and wear only your eyeglasses until your eye doctor has had a chance to examine your eyes.
Wearing contact lenses can increase the risk of pink eye and can also make symptoms worse. If you choose to wear eyeglasses more to reduce your risk of pink eye, consider photochromic lenses. They can help to reduce the light sensitivity associated with pink eye. Photochromic lenses can also help to protect your eyes from UV radiation and blue light , both indoors and outside.
Use a disinfectant to clean countertops, bathroom surfaces, faucet handles and shared phones. Clean them frequently. If you know you suffer from seasonal allergies, ask your doctor how to minimize your symptoms before they begin. If you wear contact lenses, follow your eye doctor's instructions for lens care and replacement. Use contact lens solutions or consider switching to daily disposable contact lenses. Wear swim goggles while swimming to protect yourself from bacteria and other microorganisms in the water.
Avoid swimming if you already have pink eye. Before showering, remove your contact lenses to avoid trapping bacteria between your eyes and the lenses. Tell your child's teacher about the pink eye infection so extra steps can be taken to sanitize the classroom or daycare center. Also, keep your child home until the contagious stage has passed.
Your eye doctor will let you know when you or your child is no longer considered contagious. A child can usually go back to school or daycare about a week after the conjunctivitis diagnosis. A: Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, are contagious. If antibiotics are being taken for bacterial conjunctivitis, you should no longer be contagious after 24 hours of antibiotic use.
Otherwise, viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can remain contagious as long as symptoms are present. Allergen or irritant conjunctivitis is not contagious. Your doctor will diagnose the specific cause of your pink eye to determine the most effective treatment. A: How long pink eye lasts depends on the cause or type of conjunctivitis you have.
For example, most cases of viral conjunctivitis will run their course over the span of two weeks. Bacterial conjunctivitis can begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after antibiotics are started. It can develop through exposure to the coughing or sneezing of someone with an upper respiratory tract infection. Viral conjunctivitis can also occur as the virus spreads along the body's own mucous membranes, which connect the lungs, throat, nose, tear ducts and conjunctiva. Since the tears drain into the nasal passageway, forceful nose blowing can cause a virus to move from your respiratory system to your eyes.
Ophthalmia neonatorum is a severe form of bacterial conjunctivitis that occurs in newborn babies. This is a serious condition that could lead to permanent eye damage if it is not treated immediately. Ophthalmia neonatorum occurs when an infant is exposed to chlamydia or gonorrhea while passing through the birth canal. For several years, U. Chemical conjunctivitis Chemical Conjunctivitis can be caused by irritants like air pollution, chlorine in swimming pools, and exposure to noxious chemicals.
Symptoms Symptoms vary with the causes discussed above. Diagnosis Conjunctivitis can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Testing, with special emphasis on the conjunctiva and surrounding tissues, may include: Patient history to determine the symptoms, when the symptoms began, and whether any general health or environmental conditions are contributing to the problem.
Visual acuity measurements to determine whether vision has been affected. Evaluation of the conjunctiva and external eye tissue using bright light and magnification. Evaluation of the inner structures of the eye to ensure that no other tissues are affected by the condition. Supplemental testing, which may include taking cultures or smears of conjunctival tissue.
This is particularly important in cases of chronic conjunctivitis or when the condition is not responding to treatment. Treatment Treating conjunctivitis has three main goals: Increase patient comfort.
Reduce or lessen the course of the infection or inflammation. Prevent the spread of the infection in contagious forms of conjunctivitis. The appropriate treatment for conjunctivitis depends on its cause. Allergic conjunctivitis The first step is to remove or avoid the irritant, if possible. Infectious conjunctivitis This type of conjunctivitis is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments.
Chemical conjunctivitis Careful flushing of the eyes with saline is a standard treatment for chemical conjunctivitis. Once an infection has been diagnosed, follow these steps: Don't touch your eyes with your hands.
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Change your towel and washcloth daily, and don't share them with others. Discard eye cosmetics, particularly mascara.
The infection will usually clear up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up.
A doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to treat more serious forms of conjunctivitis. For example, conjunctivitis caused by herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus. Antibiotics will not improve viral conjunctivitis; these drugs are not effective against viruses. Mild bacterial conjunctivitis may get better without antibiotic treatment and without causing any complications.
It often improves in 2 to 5 days without treatment but can take 2 weeks to go away completely. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, usually given topically as eye drops or ointment, for bacterial conjunctivitis.
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