Conjunctivitis – when the eyes itch and water

Overview: What is conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that lines the inside of the eye lids (known as the conjunctiva). It makes the eyes turn red, burn or itch, and become sticky from excessive tearing. The inflammation may be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, for example. It can also result from an eye injury or a pollen allergy.

Conjunctivitis usually clears up on its own within one to two weeks, providing it has not been triggered by a pollen allergy. Medication can help speed up the process. Your doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointments to relieve the symptoms.

Children can also get conjunctivitis

Children and babies can also be affected by conjunctivitis. In fact, it's a very common problem in children because a child’s conjunctiva is more sensitive than an adult’s, and their immune system is not yet fully developed. Small children in particular discover themselves and the world through their hands – they like to handle everything and are constantly touching their own eyes. And when they’re tired, they also tend to rub their eyes. This makes it easy for bacteria or viruses to find their way into the eyes and trigger conjunctivitis.

Avoiding infection: Hygiene is important

Viral conjunctivitis, usually caused by adenoviruses, is highly contagious, so proper hygiene is important! Regularly washing your hands and not sharing towels and washcloths with other people help to stop the virus spreading. If possible, you should avoid close physical contact with those around you while infected.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis makes one or both eyes turn red, fill with tears and become sensitive to light. It can also cause severe itching. The lids become swollen and the eye produces a watery or gooey discharge. This often causes the lashes to stick together, especially on waking up after sleep.

Other symptoms can include:

General flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes at the angle of the jaw mostly occur with viral infections.

Causes of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is often triggered by a viral or bacterial infection. But it may also be caused by allergies (to pollen, house dust, allergie to cats or other animal hair) or by contaminated contact lenses. Conjunctivitis can even be the result of an eye injury or a foreign body such as dust or smoke making its way into the eye.

Having very dry eyes likewise increases the risk of conjunctivitis, especially in the elderly, because the eye doesn't produce enough tears. In addition, very bright sunshine or a welding torch, for example, can irritate the eyes and lead to conjunctivitis.

Having conjunctivitis examined

Conjunctivitis is generally diagnosed by asking about your recent health history and symptoms, and looking at your eyes. If the condition doesn't clear up on its own within a few days, your eyes will need to be examined more closely. This calls for the use of special equipment available only to an eye specialist (e.g. a slit lamp). Additional tests may be required, such as:

• Smear test (search for pathogens under a microscope)
• Allergy test
  

Possible therapies

• For bacterial infection: antibiotic eye drops / ointment
• For viral infection: eye drops / ointment, e.g. artificial tears or eye drops containing cortisone; antibiotic drops may be prescribed to prevent a secondary bacterial infection
• Lubricating eye drops (“artificial tears”)
  

Treating conjunctivitis with home remedies

You should avoid touching your eyes unnecessarily while infected. Don't scratch and rub the eyes as this is counterproductive and may even make the inflammation worse. It’s important to wash your hands regularly, in particular after touching the eyes. And simple home remedies can help to ease the inflammation and itching:

Preventing inflammation

Wearing sunglasses outdoors is recommended to protect the eyes as much as possible from irritation. The shared use of washcloths and towels etc. should also be avoided. If eye drops/ointments are being used, attention must be paid to the expiry date; they should only be used by one person and disposed of carefully at the end of treatment.

When to see a doctor?

If the symptoms don’t clear up within one to two weeks, it’s a good idea to see a health provider. Only a doctor can establish by examining you whether it’s definitely conjunctivitis and if so, how it needs to be treated.

A medical professional should be consulted in the following cases:

• If the eyes are producing a yellowish discharge
• If inflammation recurs frequently
• If experiencing increasing light sensitivity or eye pain
• If you can't remove a foreign body in the eye by yourself
• If the eye is splashed with acid or lye (the eye must immediately be rinsed out with water for a long time)
• If vision is impaired
• If there is pain deep in the eye socket
• If there is a change in the pupil of one eye (change in size or form)