Conjunctivitis
What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin, clear tissue that lines the inner eyelids and the eyeball — the conjunctiva. It is a common condition and may be very contagious.
What causes conjunctivitis?
Causes of conjunctivitis include:
- viral or bacterial infections;
- allergies to substances such as pollen and spores;
- in newborn babies, an infection from bacteria in the mother's birth canal, which can be serious and cause sight problems if it isn't treated;
- in babies up to about 12 months of age, a partially blocked tear duct.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis
If you have conjunctivitis you will have red, sore, gritty, watery, itchy eyes. There may be yellow or green discharge (pus) which makes your lids sticky. These secretions are infectious and need to be handled with care to prevent any spread of the infection.
Treating conjunctivitis
- Bathe your eyes. Before touching them, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Dry them with a clean (or disposable) towel. Clean away any pus, crust or discharge with a disposable cotton swab and a weak salt water solution (1 teaspoon of salt in 500 mL of cooled, boiled water).
- Wipe your eye once, from the end nearest your nose to the outside, then throw the swab away. Continue until your eye is clean. Wash and dry your hands again. Cotton wool balls are not ideal because they can unravel, leaving cotton in your eye. Gauze pads from your chemist or disposable eye make-up removal pads are best to use.
- Use eye drops or ointments prescribed or recommended by your doctor. Gently pull down the lower eyelid to make a pocket. Tilt your head back to look at the ceiling. Drop the right amount of liquid into the outer third of the pocket, or run ointment along the inside. Try not to let the opening of the bottle or ointment tube touch your eye or your fingers. Wash your hands.
- Don't use eye make-up until the swelling and redness settle.
Preventing the spread of conjunctivitis
- Try not to touch your eye: you can spread infection to your other eye or to someone else. If you do touch it, wash your hands well.
- Don't share flannels, towels, pillows or bed linen.
- Don't send children or babies with conjunctivitis to preschool if the eye is weeping. To prevent reinfection, wash their hands often.
How can my doctor help?
For bacterial infection you may be given antibiotic ointment or drops. Other types of eye drops may soothe viral infections and prevent further infection. You may need anti-allergy medicine or drops if the conjunctivitis is caused by an allergy.
Last Reviewed: 06 November 2009
- 1. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) [Website]. May 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pink-eye/DS00258/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all (accessed March 2010).
2. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Blocked trear duct [Website]. Oct 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blocked-tear-duct/DS01096/METHOD=print (accessed March 2010).
3. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Conjunctivitis [Website]. Updated Jan 2009 http://www.aao.org/eyesmart/infections/conjunctivitis.cfm (accessed March 2010).
