Sight for sore eyes

It’s one thing arriving at work red-eyed after a party or a long-haul flight, quite another when all you’ve done is watch television and go to bed early. But eye infections – most of which come under the umbrella term, ‘conjunctivitis’ – are more common than you might think and though they aren’t serious, they’re uncomfortable and annoying.

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that covers the whites of the eyes. It often starts in one eye, but usually spreads to the other after a couple of days.

Soon both are red – hence the common name ‘red eye’ – and laced with swollen blood vessels. The lining of the eyelids also looks pinker than usual and the eyes are itchy, painful and often filled with a sticky, stringy discharge. Sometimes your eyes may be ‘stuck’ together when you wake up, sometimes you may feel a foreign body in the eye and some people may develop photophobia – extreme sensitivity to bright light.

Conjunctivitis is invariably caused by an allergy or a bacterial or viral infection, but there are other reasons why our eyes become inflamed. Overuse of ophthalmic medications, contact lenses and eye drops are frequent causes of chronic conjunctivitis.

Some people find that smoke, fumes or the chlorine in swimming pools can trigger redness and watering. Newborn babies sometimes develop conjunctivitis soon after birth, a condition known as neonatal ophthalmia, and small children may also be susceptible to eye infections.

Research shows that most cases of conjunctivitis clear up within about five or six days, but antibiotic medication does make you recover faster, so it’s wise to see your GP. Your doctor can diagnose which type of infection you have. For instance, you could be suffering from chlamydial conjunctivitis, which is treated with tetracycline ointment and tablets to ensure that the infection does not spread. Children with conjunctivitis should always see the doctor.