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Conjunctivitis is a fairly common problem that is associated with inflammation of the clear membrane lining the eyes and eyelids. Fortunately, for most people, it is completely harmless, and is associated only with the occurrence of unpleasant eye irritation. However, if it results from an infection, it can be contagious.The term conjunctivitis (Latin conjunctivitis) is a general inflammation of the eye, which necessarily occurs with the enlargement of blood vessels, resulting in swelling of the eye. The characteristic secretion is produced under the pressure of the lacrimal, sweat and sebaceous glands. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to indicate what is the source of conjunctivitis, thanks to which the doctor will be able to recommend appropriate therapy.
Problematic construction of the conjunctiva
Blood vessels cover almost the entire eye area, from the sclera to the back of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis is the most commonly diagnosed eye disease.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis
Symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
- redness of the eyes,
- itching or burning of one or both eyes,
- swelling of the eyelids,
- photophobia,
- sensation of having a foreign body in one or both eyes,
- excessive watering of one or both eyes,
- presence of yellowish discharge in one or both eyes,
- accumulation of discharge or gluing of the eyelids at night, which makes it difficult to open the eyes in the morning – watery, mucous, purulent, mucopurulent discharge.
Treatment – needed or not?
Although conjunctivitis usually goes away without treatment, it is worth following our advice, if only to prevent it and reduce the annoyance resulting from it. It is important to always use a clean tissue to wipe your eyes and use your own towel, eye drops, cosmetics such as mascara or eye shadow, pillows and sunglasses, as well as frequent hand washing, especially if we have a tendency to rub our eyes. Viral conjunctivitis is treated in a complex way, with antiviral drugs that relieve swelling, have a disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effect. Due to the high contagiousness, eye cosmetics used during inflammation should be replaced. Treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis consists in applying antibiotics in the form of drops and ointments, as well as sulfonamide. If the basis is allergies, antihistamines are sufficient, in extreme cases desensitization is recommended. antifungal drops and ointments are used. With dry eye syndrome, it is worth humidifying the air and hydrating the body in the amount of 2-3 liters of water consumed per day. It is advisable to close your eyelids and blink as often as possible, but also to use artificial tears and take breaks from reading or working at the computer.