Conjunctivitis
Overview:
Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is a
common condition that is defined as inflammation
of the conjunctiva, (the pink membrane which
covers the front of the eyeball & the inside of
the eyelids). Children are most commonly
affected with conjunctivitis.
It can affect one eye (unilateral) or both eyes
(bilateral) & covers a broad range of possible
conditions which cause conjunctival inflammation
which can be acute or chronic, infectious or
non-infectious.
It is extremely important to seek medical care
when it comes to any eye conditions. Failure to
do so could result in loss of vision.
Causes of conjunctivitis:
Viral & bacterial infections are the most common
cause of conjunctivitis in cats, below are some
possible causes;
-
Viral
infections
-
Bacterial infections
-
Allergies (plants, pollens etc)
-
Foreign object (grass seed, hair, eyelash)
-
Irritants
(eg; smoke, fumes, dust)
-
STD's
(Chlamydia, Gonorrhea)
Symptoms of conjunctivitis:
-
Ocular (eye) discharge. This will vary
depending on the cause of the
conjunctivitis. It may either be clear &
watery (allergic) or thick, containing mucus
or pus (viral/bacterial).
-
The conjunctiva becomes red & swollen.
-
Blinking.
-
Squinting.
-
Gritty
feeling in the eye.
Diagnosis of conjunctivitis:
Your doctor will perform a physical examination
including looking closely at the eyes & type of
discharge (watery, thick etc.) & obtain a
history from you. He may be able to diagnose the
cause based on signs & symptoms.
He may wish to perform some tests including;
-
Conjunctival swab - Your doctor may take an
eye swab which will be sent to a laboratory
for testing. There are several tests which
can be performed, including PCR (polymerase
chain reaction), Immunofluorescent assay (IFA)
or bacterial culture.
-
Fluorescein staining - This is a die which
is used to stain & demonstrate ulcerations
of the cornea.
Treatment of conjunctivitis:
Treatment depends on the cause of
conjunctivitis.
Bacterial:
Viral:
Allergic:
-
If allergy is the cause, anti inflammatories
& or antihistamines may be prescribed.
-
Cool compresses may offer relief.
-
Removing exposure to the allergen, if
possible.
Preventing the spread of conjunctivitis:
Most cases of conjunctivitis are highly
contagious. You remain infectious as long as you
have a discharge.
-
Infected people should stay home from school
or work.
-
Wash hands frequently.
-
Do not share items such as eye drops,
towels, eye make up etc.
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