Thursday 11 July 2013

Conjunctivitis - Eye Flu or Pink Eye

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis (also called pink eye) is the most common eye infection. It causes soreness and swelling (inflammation) of the skin that lines the eyelid and the white part of eyeball (the conjunctiva). When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, they are more visible. This is what makes the eye appear reddish or pink.

Infectious conjunctivitis can be highly contagious and spread from one eye to the other and all around the family if precautions are not taken.

Types of Conjunctivitis

The four main types of conjunctivitis are:
  1. Bacterial conjunctivitis usually infects both eyes and produces a heavy discharge of pus and mucus.
  2. Viral conjunctivitis typically begins with one eye and causes lots of tears and a watery discharge.This is probably the most contagious form of pink eye.
  3. Allergic conjunctivitis produces tearing, itching and redness in both eyes and sometimes an itchy, runny nose.
  4. Giant papillary conjunctivitis is another form of pink eye. It is most frequently associated with the long term use of contact lenses.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis?

  1. Eye redness
  2. Something in the eye
  3. Drainage from the eye
  4. Swollen , red eyelids
  5. Itchy or burning eyes
  6. Crusty eyelids
  7. Lots of tears
  8. Sensitivity to light 

What you should not do—Don’ts

  1. People with conjunctivitis should avoid public places and handshakes, sharing their clothing, bedding or sunglasses.
  2. Do not rub your eyes
  3. Temporarily avoid the usage of contact lenses.
  4. Do not share your eye drops- it can cause cross contamination.
  5. Do not use steroid eye drops or over the counter medicines from the chemist without consulting an ophthalmologist.

What you should do—Do’s

  1. Frequent washing of hands with soap and water or sanitizer should be ensured by patient and everybody else around them.
  2. Frequent eye wash with cold filter water and cold compresses with ice packs helps in relieving the symptoms.
  3. To wipe eyes, use tissue paper and dispose it properly in the dustbin.
  4. Wear sunglasses to avoid glare and accidental eye contact with fingers.
  5. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to be used as prescribed by the eye specialist preferably have a separate set of eye drops for each eye. 
If you are suffering from Conjunctivitis, Meet our eye specialist today for a free consultation and eye checkup. - Click here Book an appointment now! (it's FREE)

Sunday 7 July 2013

Trachoma

Trachoma is one of the oldest infectious diseases known to mankind. It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis – a microorganism which spreads through contact with eye discharge from the infected person (on towels, handkerchiefs, fingers, etc.) and through transmission by eye-seeking flies. After years of repeated infection, the inside of the eyelid may be scarred so severely that the eyelid turns inward and the lashes rub on the eyeball, scarring the cornea (the front of the eye). If untreated, this condition leads to the formation of irreversible corneal opacities and blindness.

It is responsible, at present, for more than 3% of the world’s blindness. Trachoma continues to be hyper endemic in many of the poorest and most remote poor rural areas of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Australia and the Middle East. The sequels of active trachoma appear in young adulthood and in middle-aged persons. In hyper endemic areas active disease is most common in pre-school children with prevalence rates as high as 60-90%. It often strikes the most vulnerable members of communities-women and children. Adult women are at much greater risk of developing the blinding complication of trachoma than are adult men. This increased risk has been explained by the fact that women generally spend a greater time in close contact with small children, who are the main reservoir of infection.

The development of trachoma is quite slow and there are five stages of this development that are designed by the World Health Organization.
  1. Follicular Inflammation – It is the first stage of the trachoma condition in which five or more than five follicles become visible in the inner surface of the upper eyelids.
  2. Intense Inflammation – In this second phase of the development of trachoma, the irritation of the eyes beings and the eye becomes highly infectious. The swelling of the upper eyelids also begins in the second phase.
  3. Scarring of the eyelids – Due to the infectious eyes the inner eyelids show scars on it. These scars appear like white lines and this will distort the eyelids.
  4. Ingrown eyelashes – Due to the scarring of the inner lining of the eyelids, the eyelashes starts turning in and touches the transparent outer surface of the cornea. But only one among 100 affected people shows this painful symptom.
  5. Clouding of the cornea – Due to the inflammation of the upper eyelids, the cornea gets affected severally. The ingrown eyelashes lead to clouding of the cornea. This can also result in ulcers on cornea and thus causes partial or complete blindness. 

Prevention and Treatment of Trachoma

Environmental risk factors are water shortage, flies, poor hygiene conditions, and crowded households. A prolonged exposure to infection throughout childhood and young adulthood appears to be necessary to produce the complications seen in later life. A single episode of acute Chlamydia conjunctivitis is not considered sight threatening as there is virtually no risk of prolonged inflammation or blinding complications.

It is easily treatable , all that is required is awareness, hygiene and a good eye checkup.

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