Artificial tears and warm compresses may help keep the eye comfortable while viral conjunctivitis runs its course.
But some antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent secondary bacterial infections from developing. They must be fought off by your body's immune system. Other infectious forms, caused by viruses, can't be treated with antibiotics.
Infectious conjunctivitis, caused by bacteria, usually is treated with antibiotic eye drops and/or ointment. Treatment for Bacterial or Viral Conjuntivitis
Small children, who may forget these precautions, should be kept away from school, camp, and the swimming pool until the condition is cured. Do not share towels, washcloths, cosmetics, or eyedrops with others. Thoroughly wash your hands before and after applying eye medications. If you think you might have conjunctivitis, you should Viral and allergic conjunctivitis often do not require special testing for diagnosis. If your ophthalmologist suspects bacterial conjunctivitis, s/he will culture your eyelids, conjunctiva, and discharge to make a diagnosis and choose the best treatment. The different types of conjunctivitis often can be distinguished by an eye examination, including your medical history. People who work in health care settings or with children have a high risk of exposure to the viruses that can cause viral conjunctivitis.Īllergic conjunctivitis is caused by the environmental factors that trigger an allergic reaction in the eye and these triggers are different for each person. Often the person with viral conjunctivitis has had an upper respiratory infection preceding the onset of the red eye or has been around someone with an upper respiratory infection. Viral conjunctivitis is extremely contagious. Some of the more worrisome types of bacterial conjunctivitis can be caused by organisms that also cause sexually transmitted diseases a sudden onset of the above symptoms in the context of a new sexual partner needs to be evaluated. Bacterial conjunctivitis results from exposure to a bacterial organism to which the eye is vulnerable. The risk factors for conjunctivitis depend on the type of conjunctivitis. Any type of conjunctivitis is aggravated by dryness of the eyes. Allergies can make the eyes itchy or produce a chronic red eye and environmental irritants, such as smoke or fumes, may cause conjunctivitis. Hand washing also will help prevent the spread of this infection.Īllergies can cause conjunctivitis, which produces a stringy, white discharge. Cloth handkerchiefs and towels should not be shared during this time. Infectious conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye," can be quite contagious. Viral conjunctivitis usually produces a watery mucous discharge and lasts from 1 to 2 weeks. Viruses can cause conjunctivitis, such as the familiar red eyes, sore throat, and runny nose of a common cold. There are many sources of eye irritation that can cause conjunctivitis.īacterial infections can cause a red eye, which is associated with pus or discharge from the eye, or they can cause a red eye which is associated with crusting of the eyelashes with little or no discharge. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist for a complete exam. The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have conjunctivitis. Pus, mucous, or watery discharge from the eye. When the conjunctiva becomes irritated or inflamed, the blood vessels, which supply it, enlarge and become more prominent, causing the eye to turn red. The conjunctiva, which produces mucus to coat and lubricate the surface of the eye, contains fine blood vessels that can be seen on close inspection. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, filmy membrane that covers the white of your eye.
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