Treatment for Conjunctivitis is wide-ranging based on the type of disorder affecting the conjunctiva.
Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
It is a relapsing conjunctiva inflammation generally affecting both eyes and causing harm to the corneal surface. Since the disorder classically occurs due to allergy hence it has a tendency of occurring in sultry, sunny months. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is most prevalent among kids and generally would begin prior to pubescence and resolving prior to twenty years of age.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms comprise of extreme itchiness, reddishness, watery eyes, light sensitiveness and a dense, gooey discharge. In one type of disorder, the conjunctiva underneath the upper eyelids are highly affected and develop into swelling with faint pinkish to grey appearance whereas the remnant part of the conjunctiva becoming milk-whitish. Due to another type of condition, the conjunctiva that covers the eye ball is dense and grey. At times symptoms generally subside in chilly climatic conditions and becoming mild with passage of time.
In such a situation, treatment for conjunctivitis would involve anti-allergy eye drops like lodoxamide, cromolyn, levocabastine and ketorolac. Orally taken antihistamine types might additionally be beneficial. Corticosteroids have greater potency and must not be employed for over a couple of weeks in the absence of close observation due to augmented pressure in eye, cataract and unscrupulous infections possibly arising.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
It is a lasting drying in the eyes that leads to dehydrated sensation in the corneal region and conjunctiva which causes a burning or stinging feeling in the eyes. Speckled harm to the eye’s surface augments discomforting sensation and sensitiveness to intense lights. During the later staging of this disorder, thickening of the eye surface occurs leading to ulcer formation and scars alongside blood vessel development increasing. In case scarring has an effect on the corneal surface then it could lead to eye sight impairment.
Diagnosis of dry eyes is done from the symptoms itself yet a Schirmer test that involves placing a filter paper piece at the eyelid edging is done for measuring the level of moistness that bathes the eye. Slit lamp diagnostic test is done for determining whether harm has occurred.
Treatment for conjunctivitis in this case are artificial tear eye drops which have constituents simulating true tears whose application is to be done in couple of hours time interval would usually help in controlling the issue. Surgical procedure could be conducted for blocking tear flow inside the nasal passage for facilitating more tears obtainable for bathing the eyes. Among individuals having intense eye dryness, the lids could be partly stitched together for decreasing tears from getting evaporated.
Scleritis
It is a deep-set, intensely agonizing purplish discolouring in the sclera alongside inflammation which could acutely harm eye sight. It could also be accompanied by RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and other associated conditions. In acute scenarios, the inflammation could lead to eyeball getting perforated and eye loss.
Treatment is imperative and generally done employing NSAIDs or corticosteroid types. In case the individual has RA or is not responding to corticosteroid types then medications for suppressing the immune system like azathioprine or cyclophosphamide might become necessary.
Non-malignant Growths
Duo forms of non-malignant growth formations could arise on the conjunctiva. Pterygium is a flesh-like development of conjunctiva inside the cornea, spreading across it and distorting its form, likely causal to astigmatism and other ocular alterations. Pterygium has greater prevalence in searing, arid climatic conditions. Pinguecula is a bulging; yellow-whitish growth close to the cornea, unpleasant in appearance however usually does not lead to any grave issues and does not need removal. Both these forms of growths could be excised by ophthalmologists.
Read more at : Treatment for Conjunctivitis – Part I
