CONJUNCTIVITIS

• Inflammation of the lining of the  & eyelids

• Result of infection (viral or bacterial)

or allergies

• Red eyes & discharge

• Treatment dependent on the cause

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ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS

•Allergens: pollen, animal dander,

topical eye preps
•Itchy, red eyes, watery
•discharge
Seasonal allergic rhinitis

TREATMENT GOALS:
1. Get away from allergen
2.  severity
3. Relief from symptoms
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 ALLERGIC CONJ.– WHAT TO DO?
•Get rid of allergen & apply cold compresses t.i.d
Artificial tears

OTC ophthalmic decongestants:

vasoconstriction of conjunctival vessels e.g.
Phenylephrine, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline &
oxymetazoline
Visine, Clear Eyes, Naphcon

: rebound congestion, narrow-angle

glaucoma, hypertension (refer) 3
ALLERGIC CONJ.– WHAT TO DO?
Topical Antihistamine: H1-receptor
antagonists (pheniramine maleate, antazoline
phosphate)
Antihistamine-Decongestant products more
effective: Visine-A, Vasocon-A, Naphcon A
1-2 drops, tid or qid

: rebound congestion, narrow-angle

glaucoma, hypertension (refer)

 After 72 hours…refer to eye practitioner

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 VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS
PINK EYE
•Adenovirus etiology most common
•“Pink” eyes, pus-like or watery
discharge, discomfort, blurred vision
•Recent cold, exposed to pink eye
WASH HANDS

TREATMENT GOAL:
Relief from symptoms during infection (1-3 weeks)
Artificial tears & ocular decongestants
Wash hands
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BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS
•Staph. aureus,
H.influenzae,Strep. pneumoniae
•Mucopurulent discharge, red,
“crusty” eyes in the A.M.
•Most likely refer

C. trachomatis, N.gonnorrhoeae
 REFER

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 EYE PATCHING?
• To reduce friction over corneal abrasions
•  comfort &  healing
• impair vision &  infection risk
Efficacy of eye patching for traumatic corneal abrasions: A controlled clinical trial
Le Sage N, Verreault R, and Rochette L.
Annals of Emergency Medicine 2001;38(2):129-34
“This controlled single-blind clinical trial did not show any advantage of the occlusive
patch over topical erythromycin (without dressing) in the treatment of traumatic
corneal abrasions. Use of the occlusive patch did not have any effect on rate of
recovery, relief of pain, discomfort, or other symptoms during treatment. These
findings remained the same regardless of the intensity of initial local discomfort or of
other clinical characteristics of the corneal trauma.

 
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 WHEN TO REFER?

Blunt trauma Foreign objects

Ocular abrasion Chemical burn 8