eye disorders
Infectious Conjunctivitis
Introduction
Infectious conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva usually caused by viruses or bacteria. Bacteria and viruses can infect the conjunctiva. Redness and tearing or discharge are common symptoms, and some people have sensitivity to light. Good hygiene helps prevent the infection from spreading to the other eye or to someone else's eye. Antibiotic eye drops are often given for bacterial conjunctivitis. (See also Overview of Conjunctival and Scleral Disorders .) A variety of microorganisms may infect the conjunctiva (the membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white of the eye). The most common organisms are viral, particularly those from the group known as adenoviruses. Bacterial infections are less frequent. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious, easily passing from one person to another, or from a person's infected eye to the uninfected eye. Some viruses that cause bodywide symptoms also cause red, irritated eyes. Such viral infections include Measles , Fungal infections are rare and occur mainly in people who use corticosteroid eye drops for a long time or have eye injuries involving organic matter, such as plants or dirt. , which they acquire from organisms in the mother's birth canal ( Conjunctivitis in Newborns ). . Inclusion conjunctivitis usually spreads by contact with genital secretions from a person who has a genital chlamydial infection. Trachoma , another type of conjunctivitis caused by ( Gonorrhea ), a sexually transmitted infection that also may spread to the eye by contact with genital secretions from a person who has a genital gonorrheal infection. Severe infections may scar the conjunctiva, causing abnormalities in the tear film. Sometimes, severe conjunctival infections spread to the cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil). Inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by an allergic reaction, as opposed to a virus or bacteria, is called Allergic Conjunctivitis . 