eye disorders
Infectious Conjunctivitis
Treatment of Infectious Conjunctivitis
For the discharge of bacterial conjunctivitis, washing the eyelid and warm, wet washcloth compresses to remove the typically hard, dry secretions For treating the infection of bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic eye drops or ointment For severe viral conjunctivitis, where blurring and sensitivity to light are interfering with important daily activities, corticosteroid eye drops can be helpful For decreasing the symptoms (swelling and discomfort) of viral conjunctivitis, cold compresses Frequent use of hand sanitizers and other precautions to avoid spreading the infection If discharge accumulates on the eyelid, particularly in bacterial conjunctivitis, people should gently wash the eyelid (with the eye closed) with warm tap water and a clean washcloth. Cold compresses sometimes soothe the feeling of irritation, particularly in viral conjunctivitis. If severe viral conjunctivitis causes symptoms, such as blurring and sensitivity to light, that interfere with important daily activities, corticosteroid eye drops can help. Antibiotic eye drops or ointment can help treat bacterial conjunctivitis. Because infectious (bacterial or viral) conjunctivitis is highly contagious, people should use hand sanitizers before and after cleaning the eye or applying drugs to the eye. Also, a person should be careful not to touch the infected eye and then touch the other eye. Towels and washcloths used to clean the eye should be kept separate from other towels and washcloths. People with infectious conjunctivitis generally stay home from work or school for a few days, just as they would with a cold. In the most severe cases of viral conjunctivitis, people sometimes stay home for weeks. A person with conjunctivitis should avoid swimming in a pool. Antibiotics are helpful only in bacterial conjunctivitis. However, because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections, some doctors prescribe antibiotics for everyone with conjunctivitis. Antibiotic eye drops or ointments, such asmoxifloxacin,ciprofloxacin, ortrimethoprim/polymyxin, which are effective against many types of bacteria, are used for 7 to 10 days. Drops are usually effective, but ointments are sometimes used because they last longer if the eye is watering a lot. Some people may not want to use ointments because they can blur vision for up to 20 minutes after they are applied. Adult inclusion conjunctivitisrequires antibiotics, such asazithromycin,doxycycline, orerythromycin, which are taken by mouth. Gonococcal conjunctivitismay be treated with a single injection ofceftriaxoneand a single dose ofazithromycin(ordoxycyclinefor one week) taken by mouth. Conjunctivitis of the newborn is prevented by routinely givingsilver nitrateeye drops (not available in the United States) orerythromycinointment to all infants at birth. If an infection develops despite these treatments, newborns are given medications depending on which bacterium is causing the infection. Infections caused byNeisseria gonorrhoeaeare treated withceftriaxonegiven by vein (intravenously) or injected into a muscle. Infections caused byChlamydia trachomatisare treated witherythromycin. The parents should also be treated. Most people with viral conjunctivitis get better in a week or two and do not need any specific treatment. However, corticosteroid eye drops may be needed in some people with the severe adenoviral conjunctivitis (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis) (see What Is Pink Eye? ), particularly in those in whom blurring and glare (starbursts or halos around lights) are interfering with important activities. used for some cornea infections caused by viruses—see Herpes Simplex Keratitis ). In severe cases, the doctor may remove the inflamed membrane that lines the inner eyelid to reduce the chances of scarring of the conjunctiva. 