Types of Conjunctivitis:
Viral conjunctivitis
usually affects one or
sometimes both the eyes. It causes a lot of tearing
with watery, clear discharge.
Sometimes, it causes eyelids to swell. Looking at
bright lights can be painful.
It can spread to other people very easily, especially
in schools or workplaces.
Bacterial conjunctivitis
usually affects both
eyes.
It causes eye pain, swelling of eyelids, redness in and
around the eye and a heavy discharge that can be
green or yellow.
When you sleep in the night, this discharge may build
up and it makes it difficult to open the eyelids while
waking up next morning.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious, often
affecting multiple family members or children within a
classroom.
It is spread by contact, usually with objects which have
come into contact with the infected person's eye
secretions.
Allergic conjunctivitis
is caused by body’s
reaction to certain substances to which it is allergic.
Some examples of allergens which may come in
contact with eye and cause allergic conjunctivitis
include
contact
lenses
&
lens
solution,
cosmetics/make-up, dander from animals, dust mites,
pollen from trees, plants, grasses & weeds.
Symptoms may be itching, redness and excessive
tearing in both eyes. The nose also may be stuffy, itchy
and runny.
Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. It can happen
seasonally, when pollen counts are high or year round
due to indoor allergens such as dust mite and animal
dander.
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