What is Conjunctivitis & How to Avoid it?
It is important to know how to look after your eye health and one of the most common conditions that people experience is conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye). Conjunctivitis is a common infection and one that is not usually serious, but it can look nasty and interfere with your life and sometimes will require treatment.
What is Conjunctivitis?
So, what exactly is conjunctivitis? This is an infection that causes inflammation of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye) and the inner eyelids. This results in red/pink eyes (hence the name), a burning feeling in the eyes, discharge that can cause the eyelids to stick together, itching and watery eyes. Conjunctivitis is also highly contagious, so it is important to stay away from people if you have it and avoid sharing towels.
Conjunctivitis usually clears up by itself but there are treatments available. Additionally, it is a good idea to seek the advice of a healthcare professional to ensure that it is not something else and something more serious. Contact lenses supplier Lenstore explains why it is worth getting checked out:
“Conjunctivitis, or “pink eye”, can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, but usually clears up after a week or two. If it doesn’t, or if it’s particularly uncomfortable, speak to your optometrist as they’ll be able to provide treatment to alleviate the issue – but they can also give you a check-up to make sure it’s not actually an indication of something else.”
Causes of Conjunctivitis
To avoid conjunctivitis, it is important to know what causes it. Conjunctivitis that is contagious is caused by bacteria and viruses that can lead to colds and other infections. This is why it is important to avoid others that have pinkeye and practice basic hygiene, such as washing hands on a regular basis and avoid rubbing your eyes. This can also be triggered by allergies for some, such as hay fever. There is then irritant conjunctivitis, which can come from things like chemical splashes or swimming in a swimming pool with chlorine.
Treatment
As mentioned, conjunctivitis can usually be treated at home with basic home remedies. This includes cleaning the eye carefully on a regular basis – always use water that has been boiled and cooled before touching the eye/eyelashes. If the symptoms do not improve or get worse after a few days then you can get eyedrops or antihistamines that can alleviate the symptoms.
This post should be informative and will hopefully help you to avoid this nasty infection but also know what to do if you or a loved one experience the condition.
