Conjunctivitis
is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin,
transparent layer that lines the inner eyelid
and covers the white part of the eye.
The
three main types of conjunctivitis are infectious,
allergic and chemical. The infectious type, commonly
called "pink eye" is caused by a contagious
virus or bacteria. Your body's allergies to pollen,
cosmetics, animals or fabrics often bring on allergic
conjunctivitis. And, irritants like air pollution,
noxious fumes and chlorine in swimming pools may
produce the chemical form.
Common
symptoms of conjunctivitis are red watery eyes,
inflamed inner eyelids, blurred vision, a scratchy
feeling in the eyes and, sometimes, a pus-like
or watery discharge. Conjunctivitis can sometimes
develop into something that can harm vision so
you should see your doctor promptly for diagnosis
and treatment.
A
good way to treat allergic or chemical conjunctivitis
is to avoid the cause. If that does not work,
prescription or over-the-counter eye drops may
relieve discomfort. Infectious conjunctivitis,
caused by bacteria, can be treated with antibiotic
eye drops. Other forms, caused by viruses, cannot
be treated with antibiotics. They must be fought
off by your body's immune system.
To
control the spread of infectious conjunctivitis,
you should keep your hands away from your eyes,
thoroughly wash your hands before applying eye
medications and do not share towels, washcloths,
cosmetics or eye drops with others.
EYELID
SWELLING
Anything
that irritates the eyes can also irritate the
eyelids and cause swelling (lid edema). The most
common irritant is an allergy, which can make
one or both lids crinkled and swollen. Allergic
reactions may be caused by medications instilled
into the eyes, such as eyedrops; other drugs or
cosmetics; or pollen or other particles in the
air. Insect stings or bites as well as infections
from bacteria, viruses, or fungi can also cause
the eyelids to swell.
Removing
the cause of swelling and applying cold compresses
may relieve the swelling. If an allergy is the
cause, avoiding the allergen can alleviate the
swelling; a doctor may also prescribe drug therapy.
If a foreign object such as an insect stinger
is lodged in the eyelid, it must be removed.
EYELID
INFLAMMATION
Inflammation
of the eyelids (blepharitis) causes redness and
thickening; scales and crusts or shallow ulcers
often form on the eyelids, as well. Conditions
that may occur with eyelid inflammation include
staphylococcal infection on the eyelids and in
the oil (sebaceous) glands at the edges of the
lids, seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp,
and rosacea.
Blepharitis
may produce the feeling that something is in the
eye. The eyes and lids may itch, burn, and become
red. The eyelid may swell and some of the lashes
may fall out. The eyes may become red, teary,
and sensitive to bright light. A crust may form
and stick tenaciously to the edges of the lid;
when the crust is removed, it may leave a bleeding
surface. During sleep, dried secretions make the
lids sticky.
Blepharitis
tends to recur and stubbornly resist treatment.
It's inconvenient and unattractive but usually
not destructive. Occasionally, it can result in
a loss of the eyelashes, scarring of the lid margins,
and even damage to the cornea.
Usually,
treatment consists of keeping the eyelids clean,
perhaps by washing them with baby shampoo. Occasionally,
a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment,
such as erythromycin or sulfacetamide, or an oral
antibiotic, such as tetracycline. When the person's
skin is also affected with seborrheic dermatitis,
the face and scalp must be treated as well.
STYE
A
stye (hordeolum) is an infection, usually a staphylococcal
infection, of one or more of the glands at the
edge of the eyelid or under it.
An
abscess forms and tends to rupture, releasing
a small amount of pus. Styes sometimes form simultaneously
with or as a result of blepharitis. A person may
have one or two styes in a lifetime, but some
people develop them repeatedly.
A
stye usually begins with redness, tenderness,
and pain at the edge of the eyelid. Then a small,
round, tender, swollen area forms. The eye may
water, become sensitive to bright light, and feel
as though something is in it. Usually, only a
small area of the lid is swollen, but sometimes
the entire lid swells. Often a tiny, yellowish
spot develops at the center of the swollen area.
Although
antibiotics are used, they don't seem to help
much. The best treatment is to apply hot compresses
for 10 minutes several times a day. The warmth
helps the stye come to a head, rupture, and drain.
When a stye forms in one of the deeper glands
of the eyelid, a condition called an internal
hordeolum, the pain and other symptoms are usually
more severe. Pain, redness, and swelling tend
to occur in just a very small area, usually at
the edge of the eyelid. Because this type of stye
rarely ruptures by itself, a doctor may have to
open it to drain the pus. Internal styes tend
to recur.
CHALAZION
A
chalazion is an enlargement of a long, thin oil
gland in the eyelid that results from an obstruction
of the gland opening at the edge of the eyelid.
At
first, a chalazion looks and feels like a stye:
swollen eyelid, pain, and irritation. However,
after a few days the symptoms disappear, leaving
a round, painless swelling in the eyelid that
grows slowly for the first week. A red or gray
area may develop underneath the eyelid.
Most
chalazions disappear without treatment after a
few months. If hot compresses are applied several
times a day, they may disappear sooner. If they
remain after 6 weeks, a doctor can drain them
or simply inject a corticosteroid.
(Extracts
in this section compiled from: The Merck Manual
of Medical Information.)
