Conjunctivitis
- Overview
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Complications
- Homoeopathic Treatment
- Do's and Don'ts
- Diet and Nutrition
WHAT IS CONJUNCTIVITIS?
Conjunctivitis, also called "pink eye" is the inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the eyelids and covers the white part of the eyeball.
Conjunctivitis is one of the commonest diseases seen all over the world and allergy and infections are its major contributors. Click to read on Causes of Conjunctivitis.
WHAT HAPPENS IN CONJUNCTIVITIS?
QUICK LOOK
- Redness of eye with swelling of eyelids
- Pain such as a burning sensation, throbbing or aching in eyes
- Watering of eyes
- White or yellow discharge from eyes
- Gritty feeling in eye
Click to know more about Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
WHAT CAN CONJUNCTIVITIS LEAD TO?
If not treated, Conjunctivitis can complicate into:
- Ulcers in the cornea of eye
- Inflammation of the middle ear
- Pneumonia
HOW WELL HOMEOPATHY WORKS IN CONJUNCTIVITIS
- Homeopathy has more than 50 preventive and curative medicines for conjunctivitis that work very well for persons of all ages.
- Every remedy is carefully prescribed on the basis of the patient's history and the correct homeopathic medicine can even prevent spread of infection to the 2nd eye. Click to read more about Homeopathic Treatment For Conjunctivitis.
- During epidemics too, homoeopathy has a major role in controlling the disease and also it works very well as a preventive in people who are not affected by the disease.
- It offers a more holistic approach to the Treatment For Conjunctivitis.
Few of our amazing remedies include:
- Apis mellifica: For conjunctivitis associated with oedema and redness of eyelids.
- Belladonna: When acute congestion and hypersensitiveness to light and touch is seen.
- Pulsatilla: In cases of thick, yellowish discharge from the eye with great sensitiveness to cold air.
- Natrum Sulph: One of the best remedies in cases of conjunctivitis in newborn.
Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that is so commonly witnessed all over the world that most people don't feel alarmed when they or their children acquire it.
However, like it has been wisely said, it is always better to begin treatment for this eye infection early rather than deal with its complications later.
The eyes belong to a special set of organs called sense organs. They help us to see, understand and appreciate what is around us. And so, it is extremely vital that utmost care is taken for their health.
Homeopathy provides this gentle touch to your delicate eyes and sees to it that they are treated in the most gentle and efficient manner.
Homeopathy has more than 200 remedies that can be prescribed in the management of Conjunctivitis. Each remedy is carefully selected based on the characteristics of not just the disease but also the person to be treated.
Homeopathic medicines improve the immunity, remove the allergy and take care of the eye infection, ensuring healthy eyes without troublesome side effects.
Conjunctivitis can affect one or both of the eyes. Symptoms of Conjunctivitis include:
- Redness of the eye with swelling of the eyelids
- Pain such as a burning sensation, throbbing or aching in eyes
- Watering of eyes
- White or yellow discharge in eyes causing them to stick together in the morning
- A gritty feeling in eye that may cause an itching or burning sensation
- Blurring of vision that clears on blinking, caused by discharge around the eyes
- Hypersensitivity to light
When allergy is the cause, symptoms of hay fever such as sneezing, runny, itchy nose and itchiness at the back of your throat will also be present along with symptoms of Conjunctivitis.
CLASSIFICATION
Conjunctivitis is classified depending upon the causative factors and extent of involvement.
Based on the Causative Factors, it is classified into:
- Infectious Conjunctivitis:
It is either bacterial or viral in origin and spreads to the other eye when one eye is infected. It also spreads to people coming in contact with the affected person.
- Non-infectious Conjunctivitis:
This is common among people who suffer from other types of allergic disease such as hay fever, asthma and eczema. It is often caused by pollen, dust mites, smoke and cosmetics. Reactive conjunctivitis usually occurs as a result of reaction to chemicals or other irritants, such as chlorine in swimming pools.
Based on the Extent of Involvement, Conjunctivitis is classified into:
- Blepharo-conjunctivitis: It is the combination of conjunctivitis with blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
- Keratoconjunctivitis: It is the combination of conjunctivitis and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).
Common causes of Conjunctivitis include:
- Virus- commonest factor
- Bacteria
- Allergens
Less common causes of Conjunctivitis include:
- Chemicals/ Irritants
- Systemic diseases
- Foreign objects
Viral Conjunctivitis
The commonest virus causing conjunctivitis is Adenovirus. It is often associated with a cold or sore throat. Other viruses included in causes of Conjunctivitis include Herpes simplex, Enterovirus, Coxsackievirus can also cause this disease. It usually begins in one eye, later affecting the other and tends to spread easily between people.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by infection of the eye with certain bacteria like Staphylococci, Streptococci or Haemophilus. Poor hand washing and handling infected clothes promote such types of infections. This condition affects both eyes, with redness of eye, gritty sensation and sticky discharge in them.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by the body's reaction to certain substances to which it is hypersensitive. Allergic causes of Conjunctivitis include pollen from trees, plants, grasses, as well as dust mites, molds, dander from animals, contact lenses and lens solutions and cosmetics. It occurs frequently among people with other allergic conditions, such as hay fever, asthma, and eczema and can occur seasonally also.
Reactive Conjunctivitis
Some people are susceptible to chemicals in swimming pools or to smoke or fumes, and these can figure in the causes of Conjunctivitis by precipitating irritation, discomfort, redness and watering. Mild burns may also produce conjunctivitis while more severe burns may cause whitening of cornea. Sometimes insertion of any foreign objects causes watering and discomfort in eyes.
Neonatal Conjunctivitis
Causes of Conjunctivitis in newborn include:
- Blocked tear ducts
- Use of antibiotic eye drops given to mother for irritation of eye after delivery
- The commonest bacteria that cause infection in the infant's eye come from the mother's genital tract and are passed to the infant during delivery. If not treated, they can cause serious damage to the infant's eye.
Conjunctivitis due to Systemic Diseases
Sometimes, people suffering from other diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Crohn's disease have greater possibility of acquiring conjunctivitis.
Usually complications are rare in simple adult Conjunctivitis. But sometimes if not treated in its early stages can result in
- Corneal ulcers, especially in those individual who wear contact lens
- Otitis media is seen in 25% of children with H. influenzae conjunctivitis
- Pneumonia in 10-20% of infants following chlamydial infection (Chlamydia is a common fungus that can cause a variety of complaints)
- Homeopathy has more than 50 preventive and curative medicines for Conjunctivitis. It is a gentle and simple way to treat many types of conjunctivitis and eye allergies.
- Both, acute and recurring episodes can be managed effectively with Homeopathy.When properly selected, homeopathic treatment for Conjunctivitis can even prevent spread of infection to 2nd eye.
- During epidemics, Homeopathic treatment for Conjunctivitis plays a major role in controlling the disease and also works very well as a preventive measure.
Few of our amazing remedies include:
- Apis mellifica: For conjunctivitis associated with oedema and redness of eyelids.
- Belladonna: When acute congestion and hypersensitiveness to light and touch is seen.
- Pulsatilla: In cases of thick, yellowish discharge from the eye with great sensitiveness to cold air.
- Natrum Sulph: One of the best remedies in cases of conjunctivitis in newborn.
DO'S
- Always lie down on affected side so that discharge from affected eye may not come in contact with good eye.
- Personal belongings like towels, handkerchiefs, clothes, etc. should be washed separately and must not be used by other people.
- Cold and warm compresses should be used:
-Warm compress if the cause is infective
-Cold if it is allergic or irritative - Stay away from smoky rooms, dusty atmospheres or anything that irritate eyes.
DON'TS
- Do not touch or rub the eyes.
- Never cover the affected eye/s with eye pads, since warmth will worsen the symptoms. Dark glasses should be used instead.
- Diet should include foods that will boost immunity for faster recovery and also to prevent the disease.
- Some of the foods for preventing Conjunctivitis are green leafy vegetables like spinach, fruits and vegetables that are orange in color like pumpkins, squash, oranges, carrots, papaya and mangoes. These fruits and vegetables contain beta-carotene that helps to improve immunity.
- Juices of vegetables like carrots and spinach have proved to be very beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis because Vitamin A plays an important role in the function of eyes. Other rich sources include dairy products and tomatoes.