Conjunctivitis Treatment - Dubai Eye Clinic

What is Conjunctivitis : 

Conjunctivitis is characterized by the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin, clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. It can be caused by various factors such as bacteria, viruses, allergies, or irritants.

The three types of eye Conjunctivitis condition and the unique traits that set them apart are Allergic, Bacterial, and Viral Conjunctivitis.

Allergic Conjunctivitis: 

Unlike viral and bacterial conjunctivitis which are caused by infections, allergic conjunctivitis occurs due to an allergic reaction to substances such as pollen or pet dander. It typically affects both eyes and presents symptoms like itching, redness, tearing, and swelling.

Causes of Allergic Conjunctivitis : 

Allergic conjunctivitis usually happens when the eyes come into contact with an allergen that causes your body's immune system to overreact, producing an inflammatory response in the eyes and causing tearing and redness due to flushing and dilatation of eye vessels

Symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis :

• Red or pink eyes as the eye vessels become dilated
• Itching, take care as rubbing can make the itching worse.
• Eye pain and puffy eyelids

Treatment of Allergic Conjunctivitis : 

The first step to treating contact conjunctivitis is to stop using your usual eye products to eliminate the ingredients to which your eyes are sensitive

Stay indoors as much as possible, especially in dusty hot weather. Artificial tears and cold compresses may help reduce the symptoms like swelling and itching of the eye.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis: 

As the name suggests, this type of conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria. It can occur on its own or as a result of an upper respiratory infection. Bacterial conjunctivitis often leads to more severe symptoms such as yellow or green discharge, crusting of the eyelids, and swollen lymph nodes.

Prevention of Bacterial Conjunctivitis :

• wash your hands and pillowcases regularly with warm water
• cover your mouth and nose when sneezing.
• do not share towels and pillows
• do not rub your eyes

Symptoms of Bacterial Conjunctivitis:

• Red eye and swollen eyelids
• Burning, itching, a sensation of grittiness, or mild pain or discomfort in the eye
• Increased watering of the eye
• Thick, sticky, often yellowish discharge from the eye, that causes sticky eye, especially in the morning
• Swelling of the lymph nodes in front of the ears

Treatment of Bacterial Conjunctivitis : 

1. Home remedies such as:

• Gently clean discharge from the eye with a clean cloth soaked with water.
• Applying lubricating eye drops.
• Applying a cold or warm compress.
• Avoiding the use of contact lenses and eye makeup until the infection has cleared

     2. Antibiotic eye drops or eye ointment may help to clear up the infection more quickly.

Viral conjunctivitis: 

This type of conjunctivitis is typically caused by a viral infection and is highly contagious. It often starts in one eye and spreads to the other within a few days. Symptoms may include redness, watery discharge, and itching. 

Prevention of Viral Conjunctivitis :

• Avoiding contact with people who have pink eye.
• Maintaining good hygiene, such as washing your hands often with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer.
• Avoiding touching your eyes when your hands are not clean.

Symptoms of Viral Conjunctivitis : 

• Viral conjunctivitis often begins in one eye and spreads to the other within a day or two
• Pinkness or, intense redness of the eye
• The sensation of grittiness or mild pain or discomfort in the eye
• Watery discharge from the eye, sometimes with a small amount of mucus
• Crustiness around the eyelids upon waking in the morning
• Swollen, red eyelids
• Slight sensitivity to bright light
• Swelling of the lymph nodes in front of the ears
• Other symptoms of viral infection, include runny nose, sore throat, and cough.

Treatment of Viral Conjunctivitis : 

1. Often clear up within roughly 1-3 weeks without special medical treatment
2. Home remedies and over-the-counter treatments may help to relieve the discomfort caused by conjunctivitis:
3. Antibiotics are not recommended for the treatment of viral conjunctivitis, as they are not effective against viruses, but bacteria.

• Gently clean discharge from the eye with a clean cloth, sterile pad, or cotton wool soaked in water
• Applying lubricating eye drops, called artificial tears
• Applying a cold or warm compress, a clean cloth that has been soaked in water, to the eye
• Avoiding the use of contact lenses until the infection has cleared

At Dr. Rami Hamed Center, our Ophthalmology department is dedicated to safeguarding your vision health through expert eye care Professionals, Renowned as one of the best eye care clinics in Dubai our Ophthalmology Specialists provide services for Cataract and retina treatment with Laser and Refractive surgeries.