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Viruses and bacteria are the most common infectious causes of conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is the most frequent cause observed more frequently during summer and spring. Although it is usually a relatively minor health problem, it can have a significant impact on your daily life and work.
If you have one or more of the following symptoms in one or both of your eyes, you may have conjunctivitis:
Some of these symptoms can be caused by problems other than conjunctivitis. If you have pain in your eye or feel sensitive to light or your sight is affected, contact your GP or optometrist straight away.
For healthcare professionals, advanced information about diagnosis is available on our Practitioner Site.
Viral conjunctivitis may cause cold-like symptoms such as fever and sore throat. Bacterial conjunctivitis may be due to poor hygiene, using contaminated cosmetics or physical contact with someone with the infection. Both types can be easily spread from person to person.
This type of conjunctivitis occurs in newborn babies within the first 28 days of life. It may be caused by an infection, such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Infection is acquired from infected mothers during passage through the birth canal.
Allergic conjunctivitis affects both of your eyes and they will feel really itchy. You may have hay fever or asthma symptoms too. It occurs more commonly among people who already have seasonal allergies.
Chemical conjunctivitis can be caused by irritants such as air pollution, chlorine in swimming pools or exposure to noxious chemicals.
Your GP is the best person to diagnose your conjunctivitis. They will ask about your symptoms and examine you. They may take a swab of your eye and send it to a laboratory to be tested. This will help in identifying the cause of your conjunctivitis. Your GP might refer you to an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specialises in eye health).
For healthcare professionals, advanced information about diagnosis is available on our Practitioner Site.
If you have Pink Eye (conjunctivitis), please visit your local doctor for advice. If your doctor thinks this condition is caused by bacteria, he or she may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or eye ointment to kill the bacteria. But antibiotics only work for bacterial conjunctivitis, not for the more common viral conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis often clears on its own in 7 to 10 days. If your symptoms last longer, call your doctor.
If Pink Eye is caused by an allergy or chemical, it will not go away until you avoid whatever is causing it. You should stay away from the things that trigger the symptoms. Your doctor may suggest that you use eye drops to help soothe redness and itching. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-allergy eye drops and medicines to reduce symptoms of allergy.
If the doctor has prescribed antibiotic eye drops or ointment, use them as directed. Use the medicine for as long as instructed, even if your eye starts to look better sooner. Keep the bottle tip clean, and do not let it touch the eye area.
The antibiotic eye drops commonly used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis differ according to mechanism of action, delivery and administration and can be prescribed according to the individual licenses and approvals. Several classes of antibiotic eye drops are effective against bacterial conjunctivitis.
Please consult your treating physician who is best placed to advise you further on the treatment. Always talk to your physician or doctor before taking any medicine.
Pink Eye caused by a virus or bacteria is spread through contact with the eye drainage. Touching an infected eye leaves drainage on your hand. If you touch your other eye or an object when you have drainage on your hand, you can spread the virus or bacteria.
Please note that this is an international, above country level, disease awareness website for patients.
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