Conjunctivitis is a common condition that causes redness and inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the front of the eye. Although irritating and uncomfortable, the situation is rarely severe and can be treated easily by our family doctor in Costa del Sol for conjunctivitis.
What causes conjunctivitis?
- A bacterial or viral infection – this is known as infective conjunctivitis.
- An allergic reaction to a substance such as dust mites or pollen – this is known as allergic conjunctivitis.
- The eye coming into contact with things that can irritate it, such as shampoo or chlorinated water, or a loose eyelash rubbing against the eye.
Symptoms
Your symptoms will depend on what's causing your conjunctivitis.
However, the two main symptoms that occur in most cases of conjunctivitis are:
- eye redness
- a discharge.
Infective conjunctivitis
If you have infective conjunctivitis, you may also experience:
- a burning sensation in your eyes
- a feeling of grit in your eyes
- a sticky coating on the eyelashes – usually when you first wake up in the morning
- an enlarged lymph node (gland) in front of the ear.
Allergic conjunctivitis
You may have itchy eyes if you have allergic conjunctivitis.
It's highly likely that an allergic reaction will also cause other symptoms, such as sneezing and a runny or blocked nose.
When to seek medical advice from our family doctor in Costa del Sol for conjunctivitis
Most cases of conjunctivitis aren't a cause for concern, but you should contact our family doctor in Costa del Sol for conjunctivitis as soon as you notice any of the symptoms.
Treating conjunctivitis
The treatment recommended by our family doctor in Costa del Sol for conjunctivitis will depend on whether it's caused by infection, an allergic reaction or an irritant. Most cases of infective conjunctivitis should clear up on their own in a couple of weeks and so shouldn't need any treatment.
Self-care
- Remove your contact lenses – if you wear contact lenses, take them out until all the symptoms of the infection have gone; don't re-use the old lenses after the infection has gone because they could be a potential source of re-infection.
- Use lubricant eye drops – these are available over the counter, or they may be prescribed by our family doctor in Costa del Sol for conjunctivitis.
- Gently clean away sticky discharge from your eyelids and lashes using cotton wool soaked in water.
- Wash your hands regularly to stop the infection spreading to others– this is particularly important after touching your eyes.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics aren't usually prescribed for infective conjunctivitis because it should clear up by itself.
However, if the infection is particularly severe or has lasted for more than two weeks, you may be prescribed antibiotics.
Generally, the antibiotics will be provided in the form of eye-drops or an antibacterial ointment, which is to be applied to the area around your eye.
Make sure you always follow the instructions on the packaging of whichever treatment you're given to avoid any complications and make sure you understand the possible side effects.
If you notice any of the symptoms of conjunctivitis, make sure you get in touch with our family doctor in Costa del Sol for conjunctivitis so you can get the advice you need quickly and easily.