It is estimated that about 20 percent of people have some type of eye hypersensitivity reaction. Conjunctivitis is the most frequent eye inflammation (or infection) in developed countries.
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The spectre of allergens which affect in our eyes in today's society is rising. Except "classical" herbal or animal allergens as maggot, pollen or feather, today our eyes suffer from UV radiation, extended exposure to TV or monitors, smoke and gases, which is the result of modern life. According to its severity, conjunctivitis vary from mild inflammation followed by tears to strong inflammation that causes injuries and tissue to die out.
There are many of causes of conjunctivitis. The most frequent are virus infections, on the second place bacteria, then clamidia, fungi and parasites (very rarely). Virus and bacterial types of conjunctivitis are very contagious and conjunctivitis can spread fast, especially among children, causing local epidemics. Conjunctivitis may also follow the simply cold and rashes.
Mutual symptom of all allergic conjunctivitis is distinctive eye(s) itching. The second main characteristic is that sharp sight stays the same.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis are redness in one or both eyes, eye or cover irritation (burning, itching), tearing, gritty feeling in one or both eyes, a discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night causing "glued" eyes. Same virus types cause blurred vision and sensitivity to light or "something is in the eye" feeling. Most of a people have following rhinitis (infectious or allergic, acute or chronic inflammations of the nasal mucus).
The healing of conjunctivitis depends on cause so it's better to visit a specialist. Still, virus conjunctivitis will draw back all by itself after a few days. Allergic conjunctivitis is healed by healing allergy or it even can vanish all by itself after you move allergen out of your environment. Bacterial conjunctivitis can also be healed in a few days by antibiotics. Neonatal conjunctivitis is in doctors' domain, for example, in the case of inclusion conjunctivitis caused by clamidia bacterium it is necessary to treat both partners.
If you have symptoms longer than three or four days visit a doctor before you transfer infection on the second eye, because someone with conjunctivitis may be contagious for seven to fourteen days after signs and symptoms appear. In people who are taking care about hygiene conjunctivitis can be caused by virus, bacteria or an allergy.
And while we talk about hygiene, exactly hygiene plays a very important role in prevention of conjunctivitis spreading. If you or someone of your householders get conjunctivitis, pay attention on few simple rules.
Wash your hands well before applying any medicine for eyes, after applying of medicine, and every time after you touched eyes or face, or if you cleaned a nose. Wash all clothes and other objects that are in contact with contagious eyes as towels. Frequently change pillowslips. Do not borrow eye make up. If infection is caused by bacteria or virus you must throw away all used make up. Buy the new one after you are healed. Do not touch contaminated eye or you will contaminate the other eye because conjunctivitis spreads very fast. Do not borrow towels or linen handkerchiefs. If you wear contact lenses make sure to used them properly. ■
Symptoms of conjunctivitis are redness in one or both eyes, eye or cover irritation (burning, itching), tearing, gritty feeling in one or both eyes, a discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night causing "glued" eyes. Same virus types cause blurred vision and sensitivity to light or "something is in the eye" feeling. Most of a people have following rhinitis (infectious or allergic, acute or chronic inflammations of the nasal mucus).