Conjunctivitis or pink eye is the inflammation or irritation in the conjunctiva. The thin and transparent tissue lining over the white part of the eyes is called the conjunctiva.
Conjunctivitis is usually caused by viruses, bacteria, and allergens and is effective in both children and adults. However, it’s not quite serious in most cases. Vision impairment is highly unlikely if conjunctivitis is diagnosed and treated in the early stages through an eye doctor consultation.
Here is a comprehensive guide that will discuss all the causes, types, and symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Causes of Conjunctivitis
Here is a list of some common causes of Conjunctivitis:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Irritants like smoke, dirt, pool chlorine, eye drops, and even fumes.
- Contact lenses
- Sexually transmitted disease. (STD)
- allergens
Types of Conjunctivitis
- Viral Conjunctivitis: It is the most common type of pink eye in both adults and children. Viral conjunctivitis causes irregular fluids and tears to discharge from the eyes. It also swells lymph nodes.
- Bacterial Conjunctivitis: It causes heavy mucus and pus discharge from the eye.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis: It causes itchiness, redness, and tears in the eyes, in addition to mucus discharge.
- Ophthalmia neonatorum: It affects newborn babies and is typically caused by bacteria. It may lead to long-term effects like permanent blindness.
- Giant papillary: usually results from prolonged use of contact lenses. It’s said to be an allergy caused by the presence of foreign objects inside the eye.
Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
The symptoms may vary depending upon the cause and type of the disease:
- Symptoms of conjunctivitis (pink eye) include
- Red or pink color in the white part of the eye(s)
- Swelled conjunctiva (the thin tissue layer that lines the whites of the eye with the inside of the eyelid)
- Frequent tears
- an urge to rub the eyes
- Feeling a foreign body inside the eye(s)
- irritation, itching, or burning
- Mucus or pus discharge
- Crusting of lashes or eyelids, especially when you wake up the morning
- Contact lenses start feeling uncomfortable or start losing their place in the eye
Signs for various types of conjunctivitis are:
Viral Conjunctivitis
- It may occur with symptoms of common flu, cold, or other respiratory infection
- Usually affects one eye first and can take days before spreading to the other eye
- Causes watery discharge from the eye
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
- Typically associated with pus discharge, which may cause eyelids sticking together
- It often occurs with or followed by an ear infection
Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Mostly affects both eyes
- Can lead to tearing, intense itching, and swelling in the eyes
- May occur with sneezing, itchy nose, asthma, scratchy throat, or symptoms of other respiratory conditions.
Conjunctivitis Caused by Irritants
- This type results in mucus discharge and watery eyes
Diagnosis
Not all swelling, irritation, or redness is necessarily Conjunctivitis. Moreover, the signs and symptoms for conjunctivitis are similar to other eye conditions like chalazion, seasonal allergies, iritis, and blepharitis.
For the confirmed diagnosis and treatment for Conjunctivitis, consult the experts at GetCareMD. Our virtual doctors can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and ensure that you quickly recover from the condition effectively.
Contact them for online healthcare services or visit our website for a consultation with their online doctors.