Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane that covers the white part of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids, causing symptoms such as redness, itching, pain, swelling, excess tears or even pus.
Conjunctivitis can affect people of any age, and is normally caused by infections caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses, or by allergies to dust and mites, or by eye contact with chemical products, such as shampoo, for example.
Read too: Itchy eyes: 7 common causes (and what to do)
The treatment of conjunctivitis is carried out by an ophthalmologist and varies according to its cause, and the application of cold compresses, artificial tears or ointments and eye drops with antibiotics or corticosteroids may be indicated.
Conjunctivitis symptoms
The main symptoms of conjunctivitis are:
- Redness in the affected eye;
- Swelling in the eyelid;
- Excessive production of tears;
- Itch;
- Increased sensitivity to light;
- Eye pain;
- Difficulty opening the affected eye;
- Feeling of sand in the eye.
Furthermore, if it was caused by infections, pus or thick, yellowish secretion may also appear, for example. See all the symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes, and it is important to consult an ophthalmologist so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment can be indicated.
Online symptom test
To find out the chances of having conjunctivitis, select the symptoms you present in the following test:
The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace a consultation with an ophthalmologist.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of conjunctivitis is made by an ophthalmologist by evaluating the symptoms, as well as when they started, health history and history of allergies or contact with chemicals.
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In addition, the doctor must perform an ophthalmological examination, such as acuity and visual field tests, evaluation of the cornea, extraocular motility and pupil reactivity, for example. Check out the main ophthalmological exams.
When conjunctivitis is recurrent, presents with pus, is resistant to treatment, or when there is suspicion of chlamydial conjunctivitis, gonorrhea or neonatal conjunctivitis, the doctor can take a sample of the secretion from the eye and send it to the laboratory for analysis, and thus identify the cause.
Possible causes
The main causes of conjunctivitis are:
- Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or protozoa;
- Allergies to dust, pollen, dust mites, mold, pollution, smoke or cosmetic products;
- Use of contaminated makeup accessories;
- Poor cleaning of contact lenses;
- Scratching or touching your eyes;
- Contact with contaminated water;
- Foreign objects in the eye;
- Allergic reaction to eye drops or ophthalmic ointments.
Furthermore, eye contact with chemical products, such as shampoo, conditioner or cleaning products, for example, can also cause conjunctivitis.
Types of conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis can be infectious or non-infectious, the main types being:
1. Bacterial conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis is a type of infectious conjunctivitis caused by bacteria, such as S. aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, H. influenza, Chlamydia trachomatis or Corynebacterium diphtheria.
These bacteria can be transmitted through close contact with a person with bacterial conjunctivitis, touching dirty hands to the eyes, or using contaminated makeup accessories. See how you get bacterial conjunctivitis.
2. Viral conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is another type of infectious conjunctivitis caused by viruses, mainly adenovirus, and is transmitted through direct contact with the virus, airborne transmission and contaminated places, such as swimming pools, for example.
Other viruses that can cause this type of conjunctivitis are enterovirus, herpes simplex or herpes zoster or COVID-19. Learn more about viral conjunctivitis.
3. Fungal conjunctivitis
Fungal conjunctivitis is a rarer type of infectious conjunctivitis, caused by the use of poorly sanitized contact lenses or by accidental contact with contaminated wood.
The main fungi that can cause this type of conjunctivitis are Aspergillus spp. you Fusarium spp, for example.
4. Gonococcal conjunctivitis
Gonococcal conjunctivitis is an infectious conjunctivitis caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeaewhich causes gonorrhea, a type of sexually transmitted infection.
This type of conjunctivitis can occur in newborns, being transmitted through the baby’s contact with the mother’s vaginal secretions contaminated with the bacteria, during vaginal birth.
In addition, gonococcal conjunctivitis can also be transmitted by direct sexual contact with secretions or by touching the eye with a hand contaminated by the bacteria.
5. Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is a type of non-infectious conjunctivitis caused by allergies to dust and dust mites, for example, and is more common during spring or when the weather is drier. See the main causes of allergic conjunctivitis.
6. Toxic conjunctivitis
Toxic conjunctivitis is another type of non-infectious conjunctivitis, caused by contact with substances that cause eye irritation, such as pool chlorine, shampoo, cleaning products or cosmetics, for example.
7. Neonatal conjunctivitis
Neonatal conjunctivitis can occur in the first month of a newborn’s life due to obstruction of the tear duct or infections transmitted during vaginal birth with secretions contaminated by viruses or bacteria.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of conjunctivitis must be carried out under the guidance of an ophthalmologist and varies according to the type of conjunctivitis, and the use of cold compresses on the eye may be recommended to reduce inflammation and swelling.
In cases of allergic conjunctivitis, the use of moisturizing, anti-allergic or corticosteroid eye drops, for example, may be recommended.
Read too: Types of eye drops: anti-allergy, lubricants, antibiotics (and more)
In cases of bacterial conjunctivitis, the ophthalmologist may recommend eye drops or ophthalmic ointments with antibiotics, such as polymyxin B or moxifloxacin, for example. If it was caused by gonorrhea, treatment is with oral or injectable antibiotics. See the main treatments for conjunctivitis.
How to avoid
To avoid conjunctivitis it is important:
- Avoid scratching your eyes or touching your eyes with dirty hands;
- Wash your hands frequently and whenever you touch your eyes;
- Clean properly and do not share makeup accessories;
- Change bed linen at least once a week;
- Clean contact lenses correctly;
- Use disposable tissues or compresses to clean your eyes;
- Avoid contact with substances that may cause allergies;
Furthermore, it is also very important to avoid close contact with other people with infectious conjunctivitis, through handshakes, kisses or hugs, as this increases the risk of having bacterial, viral or fungal conjunctivitis.
Read too: How many days does conjunctivitis last? Viral, allergic and bacterial
