Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the white part of the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. It is commonly known as pink eye or eye flu. This infection inside the eyelid can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or allergies. As the conjunctivitis progresses, the blood vessels in the eye become more prominent, making the eyes appear red. It can occur unilaterally or bilaterally.
What Are the Causes of Conjunctivitis?
The infection inside the eyelid can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, and environmental factors.
What Are the Symptoms of Conjunctivitis?
- Excessive tearing in the eyes
- Pain and stinging in the eye
- Persistent itching and redness in the eye
- Excessive eye discharge
- Crusting and sticking of eyelashes in the morning
- Sensitivity to light and blurred vision
Types of Conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis: It is a recurring condition caused by the eye's response to airborne allergens and affects both eyes. Sensitizing agents include pollen, animal fur, dust, and mold.
Bacterial conjunctivitis: It occurs due to inflammation of the protective membrane of the eye by bacteria. The condition may be observed in only one eye and is contagious. The infection can occur in newborns, children, and adults, though it is most common in children.
Viral conjunctivitis: Usually caused by adenoviruses, this infection starts in one eye but affects both eyes. It is often seen during periods of increased upper respiratory tract infections and is contagious.
How Is Conjunctivitis Treated?
There are 3 types of conjunctivitis, and treatment procedures vary accordingly. For example, in cases caused by allergies, cold compresses and eye drops are applied several times a day. Preventive measures include staying away from allergens, using air conditioners with appropriate filters, spending less time outdoors, and wearing sunglasses when outside.
In bacterial conjunctivitis, since the situation is contagious, one should avoid crowded environments and contact with others. Treatment involves warm and moist compresses, frequent hand washing, and using broad-spectrum antibiotic drops. Rapid recovery is observed with regular use of drops over 7 to 10 days. Cases seen virally are mostly mild. Cold compresses and hygiene are the primary treatment methods, accompanied by eye drops and ointments. Symptoms of the disease may last longer compared to other types.
As symptoms can be confused with allergic conjunctivitis, the treatment process may be prolonged due to incorrect medication use; caution is important in this regard.
Does Conjunctivitis Heal on Its Own?
Bacterial conjunctivitis may heal on its own. For other types, if the diagnosis and treatment of conjunctivitis are delayed or not done properly, the disease can frequently recur and last for months. More importantly, waiting for it to resolve on its own can lead to permanent astigmatism, keratoconus, spots in the eye and other conditions that can decrease the quality of vision if treatment is delayed.
How to Take Precautions Against Conjunctivitis?
There are certain factors that can trigger conjunctivitis and accelerate its progression. These factors affect the patient to varying extents depending on the type of conjunctivitis. Avoiding these is important for eye health and preventing/treating conjunctivitis.
- Staying away from smoky environments
- Avoiding air pollution
- Avoiding air-conditioned environments (due to mold and dust inside)
- Wearing sunglasses
- Keeping windows closed in the spring
- Cold compresses and frequent washing of eyes with water
- Staying away from pets for a while
- Avoiding contact lenses temporarily and frequently renewing solutions, preferring daily disposable lenses
- Preventing contact with other children, especially among young children, as the disease is contagious
- Frequent hand and face washing with antiseptic soaps
- Using disposable towels
- Avoiding makeup and not sharing makeup products with others
- Regular use of prescribed eye drops until the infection is fully resolved
- Paying attention to the cleanliness of shared areas like pools and baths
- Not sharing towels
- Avoiding excessive screen time on computers and phones
- Avoiding dusty environments
- Not using other people's belongings
- Not neglecting doctor check-ups
Points to Consider in the Treatment of Conjunctivitis Types
Conjunctivitis treatment varies depending on the underlying cause. Therefore, the correct diagnosis is crucial for the effectiveness of the treatment process. Allergic conjunctivitis is a condition that can recur at certain times of the year and is often associated with environmental allergens. This condition, which increases during pollen seasons, is characterized by intense itching, tearing, and redness in the eyes. Antihistamine drops, mast cell stabilizers, and, if necessary, corticosteroid-containing drops can be used in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
Adenoviral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and is usually seen along with upper respiratory tract infections. In such conjunctivitis cases, strictly following hygiene rules plays a critical role in preventing the spread of the infection. Treatment is mainly supportive. Cold compresses, artificial tears, and antiseptic-containing drops may be recommended. Since adenoviral conjunctivitis symptoms can last long, the patient must be patient and not skip doctor follow-ups.
Acute atopic conjunctivitis is a serious type of conjunctivitis seen especially in individuals with allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis. It is characterized by itching, burning, and mucus accumulation in the eyes. In such cases, due to the more intense immune response, treatment should be supported with topical steroids and immune modulators. Long-term treatment may be required and should be continued under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
In all types of conjunctivitis, patients should be aware of the contagiousness of the infection, adhere to personal hygiene rules, and not interrupt the treatment process. Discontinuation of treatment can lead to the recurrence or chronicity of symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is conjunctivitis, and how is it transmitted?
Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane covering the white part of the eye (sclera) and the inner surface of the eyelids. It is also known as "pink eye" or "eye flu" among the public. The contagiousness of conjunctivitis varies according to its type. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are extremely contagious and can be transmitted from person to person through contact. The risk of transmission increases with frequent touching of the face and eyes, sharing personal items such as tears, towels, pillows, makeup, glasses, or contact lenses. Being in crowded places, not paying attention to hygiene rules, and neglecting hand and face cleanliness also facilitate transmission. Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious; it develops due to contact with environmental allergens.
How is allergic conjunctivitis distinguished from other types of conjunctivitis?
Allergic conjunctivitis is usually a recurring condition that develops seasonally in response to allergens (such as pollen, house dust, animal fur, mold). In this case, itching is the most prominent symptom and occurs in both eyes. In the allergic form, nasal discharge, sneezing, and other systemic allergy symptoms may also accompany. Watery, redness, and swelling are present in the eyes, but discharge is typically minimal or absent.
Viral conjunctivitis usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other within a few days. It may be accompanied by cold or flu-like upper respiratory tract infections. Clear watery discharge, a stinging sensation, and light sensitivity are common symptoms in the eyes.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is characterized by more intense and yellow-green discharge, with the eyelids sticking together in the morning, and the infection often starts in one eye. If untreated, the infection can easily spread to the other eye.
What should be considered during the treatment of conjunctivitis?
The main point to consider in the treatment of conjunctivitis is to direct appropriate treatment according to the type of disease and to adhere to hygiene rules completely.
Although there is no specific antiviral treatment for viral conjunctivitis, cold compresses, artificial tears, and eye hygiene can help reduce symptoms. Eye drops and ointments should be used as recommended by the doctor.
Antibiotic eye drops or ointments are used in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. Regular use of drops helps rapidly control the infection.
In cases of allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drops without steroids, or low-dose steroids, if necessary, can be prescribed. Staying away from allergens also enhances the effectiveness of the treatment.
During treatment, eye makeup should not be done, lenses should not be worn, the patient should not share personal towels and pillows with others, and hands should be washed regularly. Avoiding prolonged screen time, frequently resting the eyes, and wearing sunglasses also support the treatment.
Does conjunctivitis go away on its own?
Some mild types of conjunctivitis, particularly bacterial ones, may heal on their own. However, this is not always the case. Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis can last for weeks and have the potential to spread to the environment due to its contagiousness. Allergic conjunctivitis may recur as long as exposure to the allergen continues and can become chronic if left untreated.
Delay in treatment, especially in viral conjunctivitis, can lead to permanent damage to the eye, reduced vision quality, and secondary eye problems such as keratoconus. Therefore, when symptoms of conjunctivitis are observed, a specialist in eye diseases should be consulted, and an accurate diagnosis should be made. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment not only shorten the recovery period but also prevent possible complications.