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Conjunctivitis
is one of the most common and treatable eye conditions
in children and adults. Often called "pink eye,"
it is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue
that lines the inside of the eyelid and helps keep the
eyelid and eyeball moist.
Viruses, bacteria, irritating substances (shampoo, dirt,
smoke, pool chlorine), sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), or allergens (substances that cause allergies)
can all cause conjunctivitis. Pink eye caused by bacteria,
viruses, or STDs can spread easily from person to person
but is not a serious health risk if diagnosed promptly;
allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious.
It
is important to find out whether your pink eye is caused
by allergies or infection because each condition has
different treatments. This article focuses on allergic
conjunctivitis.
What
Are the Symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis?
Redness
in the white of the eye or inner eyelid
Increased amount of tears
Itchy eyes
Blurred vision
Swelling of the eyelid
See your ophthalmologist (a doctor and surgeon who is
trained to treat eye conditions) or optometrist (doctor
trained to treat eye conditions) or family doctor if
you have any of these persistent symptoms.
How
Is Allergic Conjunctivitis Treated?
Allergy-associated
conjunctivitis may disappear completely, either when
the allergy is treated with antihistamines, or when
the allergen is removed. Your doctor may recommend you
use one or more of the following:
Ocular
(topical) decongestants: These medicines reduce redness
by constricting small blood vessels in the eye. They
are not recommended for long-term use. Using these drops
for more than a few days can worsen symptoms.
Ocular (topical) antihistamines: These medicines reduce
redness, swelling, and itching by blocking the actions
of histamine, the chemical that causes these symptoms
of allergy. They are available both over-the-counter
and by prescription.
Ocular (topical) steroids: When other medicines fail,
your doctor may prescribe steroid eye drops to relieve
the symptoms of conjunctivitis. These must be used with
the supervision of your doctor since they can cause
elevated pressure inside of the eye, which can lead
to vision damage. Your doctor also must check for viral
eye infections, such as herpes, before optical steroids
are used. These drops can also increase the risk of
cataracts, clouding of the lens of the eye that can
impair visio
Cromolyn: This medicine works by preventing specialized
cells from releasing histamine. It works best when started
before symptoms occur.
Immunotherapy: Allergy shots can be effective for treating
allergic conjunctivitis.
What Can I Do to Relieve Symptoms?
Remove
contact lenses, if you wear them.
Place cold compresses on your eyes.
Try nonprescription "artificial tears," a
type of eye drop that may help relieve itching and burning
(Note: Other types of eye drops may irritate the eyes
and should not be used.) Do not use the same bottle
of drops in the other eye if it is not affected.
The best defense against allergic conjunctivitis is
a good offense: try to avoid substances that trigger
your allergies.
Other
tips:
Don't
touch or rub the affected eye(s).
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
Wash your bed linens, pillowcases, and towels in hot
water and detergent to reduce allergens.
Avoid wearing eye makeup.
Don't share eye makeup with anyone else.
Never wear another person's contact lens.
Wear glasses instead of contact lenses to reduce irritation.
Wash your hands after applying the eye drops or ointment
to your eye or your child's eye.
Do not use eye drops that were used in an infected eye
in a non-infected eye
Reviewed
by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine.
Edited
by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, Feb. 2004, WebMD.
Portions
of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
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