Viral conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye caused by viruses, such as adenovirus or herpes, which cause symptoms such as intense eye discomfort, redness, itching and excessive tear production.
Although viral conjunctivitis often disappears without requiring specific treatment, it is very important to consult an ophthalmologist to confirm the type of conjunctivitis and receive the correct guidance to facilitate treatment.
Furthermore, as viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious, it is advisable to take all precautions to avoid passing the infection to other people. This includes washing your hands whenever you touch your face, avoiding scratching your eyes and not sharing objects that are in direct contact with your face, such as towels or pillows.
Main symptoms
The symptoms that normally appear in the case of viral conjunctivitis are:
- Intense itching in the eyes;
- Excessive production of tears;
- Redness in the eye;
- Hypersensitivity to light;
- Feeling of sand in the eyes
Normally, these symptoms only appear in one eye, as there is no production of gunk that ends up infecting the other eye. However, if proper care is not followed, the other eye may end up becoming infected after 3 or 4 days, developing the same symptoms, which remain for 4 to 5 days.
Furthermore, there are some cases in which a painful sensation appears near the ear and is caused by the presence of the infection in the eyes, gradually disappearing with the eye symptoms.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
To find out your risk of having viral 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 and does not replace consultation with an ophthalmologist.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The symptoms of viral or bacterial conjunctivitis are very similar and, therefore, the best way to find out if it really is viral conjunctivitis is to go to an ophthalmologist. The doctor can make the diagnosis just by evaluating the symptoms, but can also do a tear test, which looks for the presence of viruses or bacteria.
How do you get viral conjunctivitis
Transmission of viral conjunctivitis occurs through contact with secretion from the eye of an infected person or by sharing objects, such as handkerchiefs or towels, that have come into direct contact with the affected eye.
Other ways to get viral conjunctivitis are:
- Using the makeup of a person with conjunctivitis;
- Using the same towel or sleeping on the same pillow as someone else;
- Share glasses or contact lenses;
- Give hugs or kisses to someone with conjunctivitis.
The disease is transmissible as long as the symptoms last, so a person with conjunctivitis should avoid leaving the house, as they can transmit the disease very easily, even through a simple handshake, as the virus can remain on the skin when scratching. the eye, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
Viral conjunctivitis usually disappears on its own, without requiring specific treatment, however, the doctor may recommend some medications to alleviate symptoms and facilitate the recovery process.
To achieve this, it is quite common for the ophthalmologist to recommend the use of moisturizing eye drops or artificial tears, 3 to 4 times a day, to relieve itching, redness and the feeling of sand in the eyes. In rarer cases, where the person is very sensitive to light, and where the conjunctivitis lasts for a long time, the doctor may also prescribe other medications, such as corticosteroids.
Furthermore, washing your eyes several times a day and applying cold compresses to the eye also help to greatly alleviate symptoms.
Does viral conjunctivitis leave sequelae?
Generally, viral conjunctivitis does not leave any consequences, but blurred vision may occur. To avoid this consequence, it is recommended to only use eye drops and artificial tears that have been recommended by your doctor and, if any vision difficulties are identified, you should consult an ophthalmologist.
General care during treatment
In addition to using medication and taking measures to alleviate symptoms, it is also very important to take some precautions to prevent transmission, as viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious:
- Avoid scratching your eyes or touching your face;
- Wash your hands frequently and whenever you touch your face;
- Use disposable tissues or compresses to clean your eyes;
- Wash and disinfect any object that is in direct contact with the face, such as towels or pillowcases;
Furthermore, it is also very important to avoid close contact with other people, through handshakes, kisses or hugs and, therefore, it is also advised to avoid going to work or school, as this increases the risk of passing the infection to others. other people.
Bibliography
- AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY. Conjunctivitis: What Is Pink Eye?. Available at: <https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pink-eye-conjunctivitis>. Accessed on February 28, 2020
- NHS. Conjunctivitis. Available at: <https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/>. Accessed on February 28, 2020
- SOLANO, Daniel; CZYZ, Craig N.. Viral Conjunctivitis. StatPearls Publishing. 2019
- AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION. Conjunctivitis. Disponível em: <https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/conjunctivitis>. Acesso em 28 fev 2020
