What is conjunctivitis?
A common condition affecting one or both eyes that causes inflammation of the thin layer of tissue – the conjunctiva – that covers the front of the eye and inner surfaces of the eyelids. You may also recognise it as being called pink eye.
What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?
Pink eyes, bloodshot or puffy appearance
A burning or gritty sensation in the eye
Itchiness
Sticky or crusty eyelashes – you may feel like your eyes are stuck together when you wake up
Symptoms of conjunctivitis or pink eye can present differently, depending on its underlying cause. Usually, the affected eye will look pink or bloodshot and perhaps puffy. You may also experience itchiness or a burning sensation.
Contact your optometrist, GP, ophthalmologist or hospital immediately for appropriate advice if you experience: eye pain, light sensitivity, disturbed vision, or intense eye redness. These symptoms could be a sign of a more serious eye condition.
What causes conjunctivitis?
There are three main causes of pink eye: infection, an allergic reaction, or an irritant.
Infection – can be bacterial or viral.
Allergic reaction – to pollen, for example. This will more commonly cause itching.
Irritant – when your eye comes into contact with an irritating substance, such as shampoo, chlorinated water, or a loose eyelash.
The cause of inflammation will determine the type of symptoms you get and your treatment.
How is conjunctivitis treated?
Treatment isn’t always necessary for conjunctivitis, as symptoms will usually improve on their own after a couple of weeks.
Any pink eye treatment will depend on what is causing the condition. You may need to use antibiotic drops to clear the infection, or antihistamines if it is an allergic reaction.
Otherwise, it’s best not to irritate your pink eye further – so avoid wearing contact lenses or eye make‑up until your conjunctivitis clears.
Conjunctivitis FAQs
Persistent conjunctivitis could be a sign that there is an underlying illness, preventing your body from fighting the disease. This could be a rheumatic disease such as arthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus. It can also be Kawasaki's disease. If your conjunctivitis has not cleared up or is recurring, you should visit your doctor or optometrist to rule out any underlying causes.
In some cases, yes. Two of the main types of conjunctivitis are contagious ‑ those caused by infection by bacteria or viruses. There is a third main type of conjunctivitis, due to allergy, which cannot be passed from person to person. Conjunctivitis affects people of all ages but is more common in children. The best way to avoid infection is to wash hands frequently and avoid sharing towels with someone who has an infectious conjunctivitis.
Contact lenses should not be worn until the symptoms have gone completely. If you continue to insert and replace your contact lenses you will keep re‑infecting your eyes.
If you continue to wear your lenses, the contact lens case will become contaminated and it is highly likely that you will spread it to both of your eyes. Even if you have been prescribed treatment you should not wear your lenses until your symptoms have disappeared.
If you wear daily, two weekly or monthly reusable contact lenses, wait for a couple of days after the symptoms have cleared up to make sure you're fully recovered, then start with fresh lenses and storage case (for reusables).
If you use yearly replacement or gas permeable make sure you clean and disinfect the lenses and use a fresh storage case. If the symptoms come back visit your optometrist for more advice.
There are three main causes of conjunctivitis ‑ viral bacterial and allergic ‑ so without knowing what type you had it is difficult to determine whether or not you need a new pair of contact lenses.
However, if you have been cleaning and disinfecting your lenses correctly and, you replace your contact lens case, you should be safe from re‑infection.
Contact allergic conjunctivitis occurs when the contact lens or the proteins present in the tear film that binds to the surface of the contact lens causes an allergic response in the conjunctiva. Patients with this condition may try alternative lens materials and care solutions to overcome the problem.
Giant papillary conjunctivitis, often abbreviated to GPC, is a condition in which the inner lining of the eyelid swells and develops small bumps. Known as papillae, these bumps tend to form after chronic irritation and usually result from wearing contact lenses over time. These bumps can expand and combine, leading to larger growths and a cobblestone‑like appearance.
Visit your local optometrist and discuss your symptoms to discover whether you have GPC. They will likely take a careful history of your complaints and observe your eyes under an upright microscope called a slit lamp. The optometrist will flip your upper eyelid outward to examine the inner eyelid, and may also apply a dye to temporarily stain the tissue for easier diagnosis.
Did you know?
AA Members are entitled to a free eye test (valued at $60), once every two years. Remember to present your AA Membership card in‑store.
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Free exam for AA Members applies to standard eye examinations only, normally valued at $60. Excludes contact lens examination and visual field checks. Limited to one per AA Member every two years. Available to current AA Members upon presentation of AA Membership card.