Conjunctivitis

Protect Yourself from Conjunctivitis

The heat and the humidity are back and so are the ailments with it. Apart fom the flu, eveyone's getting conjunctivitis, more commonly known as the 'red eye'. Here are a few precautions you can take to keep it away.

"Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelids or your eyeballs," explains Dr Keiki Mehta, an Ophthalmologist. "It is also called the pink-eye syndrome because the inflammation causes the blood vessels to become more prominent, making the eye look pink," he says.

The infection is not airborne. It can only spread through direct contact with the person who has it. “The infection is contagious and passed on from person to person due to sharing of articles used during the course of daily activities. It does not spread by merely looking at a person with infection," says Dr Niteen Dedhia, Mumbai-based Opthalmic Surgeon.

"Anybody who has had it once develops immunity towards it, but to that strain of infection only, thus there is always a possibility for a reinfection," says Dr Mehta.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis could affect one or both eyes. Most common symptoms of conjunctivitis are sensation of foreign body in the eye, watering, discharge and redness. It is sometimes coupled with viral fever too. Watery, mucous or pus-like discharge glues the lids. You could also get sensitive to light and experience heavy lids.

Causes of Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. It could also due to allergy to pollution and dust.
Viral conjunctivitis usually affects only one eye and causes excessive eye watering and a light discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis affects both eyes and causes a heavy discharge, sometimes greenish. Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes and causes itching and redness in the eyes and sometimes the nose, as well as excessive tearing. Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) usually affects both eyes and causes contact lens intolerance, itching, a heavy discharge, tearing and red bumps on the underside of the eyelids.

What's To Be Done

Good eye care is the key to staying away from conjunctivitis. Here's what you should keep in mind:

• Don't share a towel or hanky with anyone. Keep clean tissues and napkins with you at all times.
• Use a sanitiser so you that can keep your hands germfree.
• Make sure you don't touch your eyes with dirty hands.
• If something enters your eyes, wash them with cold water immediately.
• Change your pillowcases often.
• Discard old cosmetics and don't share your eye make-up.
• Follow your doctor's instructions on how to use contact lenses hygienically.
• Don't rub your eyes.
• Don't go swimming.
• Apply warm compress for five to ten minutes and follow it with eye drops prescribed by you doctor.

Article and Image Source: Idiva