What is conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation that causes the conjunctiva, which is the thin tissue covering the front of the eye, to become red and irritated. It is also often known as ‘pink eye’ because the inflammation causes the whites of your eyes to become pink or red in colour. It can affect one or both eyes.

Symptoms

Symptoms of conjunctivitis can include:

• Redness in the whites of your eyes.
• Watery or teary eyes.
• Yellow or white discharge.
• Swollen eyelids.
• Sensitivity to light.
• A feeling of grittiness in your eye, or it may feel like you’ve got something in your eye.
• Burning eyes.
• Blurry vision.

Causes

The most common causes of conjunctivitis are viral infections, bacterial infections, allergens, or irritants.

Viral conjunctivitis is the most common form of conjunctivitis, and it can be caused by viruses like the common cold. This type of conjunctivitis can occur in one or both eyes.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria, which are types of bacteria that cause staph infections and strep infections. This type of conjunctivitis often starts in one eye and spreads to the other.

Viral conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis are both very common and highly contagious. They are often spread by contaminated fingers, surfaces, and objects such as towels or pillows.

Allergic conjunctivitis is be caused by a reaction to allergens, and it is not contagious. It usually occurs in both eyes.

Treatment

In most cases, treatment isn’t required for conjunctivitis, and it will naturally clear up on its own from around one to two weeks.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotics in the form of eye drops or ointments, but antibiotics will not work for viral conjunctivitis.

For conjunctivitis caused by allergens, the best thing is to remove the irritant or cause of the allergic reaction. It can also be treated with antihistamine drops or tablets.

For all types of conjunctivitis, symptoms can be managed through the use of eye drops, artificial tears, or warm compresses.

Always speak to your GP or eyecare professional about the best treatment options for you.

Prevention

To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, it is important to:

• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
• Avoid sharing things like pillowcases, towels, or cosmetics.
• Use clean towels, pillowcases, and washcloths.
• Avoid touching your eyes.
• Clean your contact lenses properly.

For more information

• Find an optometrist.
• Always speak to your GP and eye care professional about the best treatment options for you.