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Conjunctivitis

• Definition of Conjunctivitis
• Description of Conjunctivitis
• Causes and Risk Factors of Conjunctivitis
• Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
• Treatment of Conjunctivitis
• What Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Conjunctivitis

Definition of Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eyeball).

Conjunctivitis can be caused by allergies, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or underlying health conditions.

Description of Conjunctivitis

The eyes are susceptible to infection because they are not sterile. They rely on lysozyme (an enzyme found in the tears) to destroy bacteria. Bacteria line the surface of the eyelids (all the way down into the shaft of the eyelashes), which makes the conjunctiva predisposed to germs and conjunctivitis.

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Causes and Risk Factors of Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis can be classified as infectious or noninfectious.

Infectious conjunctivitis (pinkeye) accounts for 70 percent of all cases and is caused by either a bacteria (usually staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci or chlamydia trachomatis) or a virus.

Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs in 50 percent of all cases, and viral conjunctivitis occurs in 20 percent. Infectious conjunctivitis is very contagious.

Noninfectious conjunctivitis (which accounts for the remaining 30 percent of all cases), can be caused by allergies (such as pollen or grass), chemicals (such as air pollutants, smoke or household cleaners), or underlying diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), lupus, Kawasaki's disease, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Additionally, conjunctivitis can be caused by hemorrhaging from trauma or changes in pressure within the head (subconjunctival hemorrhage).

An incompletely opened tear duct or herpetic conditions (such as herpes simplex or herpes zoster) also can cause conjunctivitis.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

The symptoms of infectious conjunctivitis caused by a bacteria or viruses are:

• Eye pain
• Swelling of the eyes
• Redness in the eyes
• Yellow, green or watery discharge from the eyes which collects overnight and crusts over the eye
• A gritty feeling in the eye
• Itching of the eye
• An enlarged lymph gland in front of the ear

The symptoms of conjunctivitis caused by allergies are:

• Intense itching of the eye
• Excessive tearing of the eye
• Swelling of the eye
• Redness of the eye
• Sneezing
• Runny nose

Symptoms for the other causes of noninfectious conjunctivitis are dependent on the circumstances (i.e., if the conjunctivitis is caused by smog, the person may experience itchy, red eyes; if the conjunctivitis is caused by a chemical in the eye, the person may experience burning, red eyes and blurred vision).

Treatment of Conjunctivitis

A physical examination usually reveals redness and swelling of blood vessels in the conjunctiva. The doctor may take a specimen of conjunctival scrapings to determine if the conjunctivitis is bacterial, viral or caused by other sources, such as allergies or chemicals.

Treatment of conjunctivitis varies with the cause.

What Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Conjunctivitis

Can a regular doctor treat conjunctivitis or should I see an ophthalmologist?

Will any tests or smears need to be done to identify the cause?

What type of conjunctivitis is it?

What is the best treatment?

How long will it take for relief of symptoms?

How long is the child with conjunctivitis contagious? Should she or he stay home from school?