“If you can fix my conjunctivitis I’ll be very happy”

“If you can fix my conjunctivitis I’ll be very happy”

Treatment of Conjunctivitis

If your conjunctivitis is persistent, then you need to get it fixed. Fortunately, most cases of pink eye, or conjunctivitis, are mild and will get better on their own even without formal treatment. However, there are times when you have to see an ophthalmologist for specific treatment and follow-up:

1. If your conjunctivitis has not got better after 48 hours.
2. If you have moderate to severe pain.
3. If you have a sensitivity to light or blurred vision.
4. If the redness and swelling are very intense.
5. If you have a weak immune system, for instance, you are undergoing cancer treatment, or you have HIV.
6. If you have a pre-existing eye condition that may be at risk if you get conjunctivitis.
7. If someone else in your family or your friends have also caught conjunctivitis.
8. If an infant or newborn has symptoms of pink eye, this is considered an eye emergency.

How can your ophthalmologist fix your conjunctivitis?

Your ophthalmologist will take your history, then test your vision and check that the visual acuity is normal. Then they will examine your eyes, wearing gloves, using the slit lamp. The slit lamp provides a wonderful magnification of x 10 to x 16 and your ophthalmologist will be able to see all the fine detail on the surface of the eye.
They will tell you whether your conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial and whether there is involvement of the cornea – or the “window of the eye ” – with a secondary keratitis infection.
If necessary, they can then give you treatment in the form of eyedrops and even systemic antibiotics, although antibiotics either in drop form or by mouth are only suitable for the more severe cases of bacterial conjunctivitis that have not responded to over-the-counter treatment and home hygiene measures within 48 hours.
In particular, your ophthalmologist will differentiate whether you have conjunctivitis or another condition that may require an entirely different form of treatment, such as uveitis, requiring steroid drops and dilating the pupil, or a contact lens keratitis requiring special treatment.
At Clinica London, we look after patients with general eye problems, which includes fixing your conjunctivitis. Our aim is to make you happy and help you get rid of conjunctivitis. If you have conjunctivitis that is not going away quickly, you should make an appointment to see one of the Clinica London ophthalmic consultants for assessment, advice and treatment.