Let’s Talk Conjunctivitis 

Have you ever woken up with a sticky eye? Chances are, you were or are suffering from conjunctivitis. You may have heard of conjunctivitis before (or heard it called pink or red eye), but do you know what is it? Or how to spot conjunctivitis symptoms? Or even how to treat conjunctivitis when it strikes? If you answered no to any of these, let us give you the low down on this common eye condition.

Types of Conjunctivitis

There are various types of conjunctivitis, such as allergic, viral, and bacterial conjunctivitis. All types of conjunctivitis are caused by the conjunctiva (that’s the very thin layer of transparent tissue that covers the underside of the upper and lower eyelids) becoming inflamed. It can be caused by a few different things; these are broken down into: 

Viral & Bacterial Conjunctivitis

As it says on the tin, viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are caused by just that, a viral or bacterial infection. These are the types of conjunctivitis that are extremely contagious. (We’ll come onto how to prevent the spread of conjunctivitis in more detail shortly). 

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis is when your conjunctiva is inflamed due to an allergic reaction, such as pollen. The good news about this type of conjunctivitis is that it is not contagious. 

It is also known that irritants can cause conjunctivitis (known as irritant conjunctivitis), such as when going swimming.

Know the signs – Conjunctivitis Symptoms

The main conjunctivitis symptoms are: – 

• Sticky/Crusty Eye – This could be the first thing you notice, your eye being sticky or crusty in the morning. This is caused by a discharge, sometimes pus, sticking to your eyelashes so your eyes stick together. 

• Red/Bloodshot Eye – Caused by the inflammation of your conjunctiva 

• Itchy Eye 

• Burning or gritty feeling in your eye 

• Watery Eye 

Conjunctivitis Treatment

Think you have conjunctivitis? Then don’t worry, we are here to help. Here’s our top tips on conjunctivitis treatment and how to care for your eyes: –  

• Contact Lens Wearer? – If you are a contact lens wearer, take them out! Pop on your specs to stop irritating your eyes further.  

• Clean your eyes with cooled boiled water – Gently clean your eyes using cotton wool and cooled boiled water, making sure to throw away once wiped. It’s best to wipe from the inside of your eye to the outer part. A big no-no here is to use the same piece of cotton wool twice or on the other eye. Just use once and dispose of to stop the spread of infection. 

• Use a cold compress – using a clean cold flannel, place and hold on your eyes for a few minutes to help them cool down. 

Depending on the type of conjunctivitis you are experiencing, there are other conjunctivitis treatments you can try, for example: –  

• If you are suffering with allergic conjunctivitis, then some antihistamine tablets or antihistamine eye drops could help, especially with the itchiness. Speak to your GP or Pharmacist for more information and support on antihistamine products. Remember, try to not rub your eyes as this could make the symptoms worse. 

• Try to avoid exposure to what you are having a reaction to (this is also the case with irritant conjunctivitis). If your allergic conjunctivitis is caused by pollen, try using wrap around sunnies.  

• If you have bacterial conjunctivitis, you don’t usually need a trip to the doctors, unless you have had the symptoms for 2 weeks or more. If this is the case, it maybe that you are prescribed some antibiotics and/or eye drops/ointments. 

• Unfortunately, antibiotics will not work on viral conjunctivitis. but you may feel some benefit from some lubricating eye drops and painkillers if needed. 

Conjunctivitis – How to stop it from spreading

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are contagious. To stop the spread of conjunctivitis here’s a few do’s and don’ts’s: –  

DO

• Wash your hands regularly. 

• Use clean towels, pillowcases, and face clothes 

• Make sure to dispose of any tissues when coughing or sneezing 

DO NOT

• Touch or rub your eyes 

• Share your towels, face clothes or pillow cases – and make up too! 

While on the subject of make-up, if you have conjunctivitis or have had it, it’s a good time to change your mascara. This will prevent a re-occurrence of the conjunctivitis and changing your mascara every 3 months is a great tip to keep your eyes healthy.  

For more information on how to treat common eye conditions, why not read further articles on our blog?