Eye Health - Conjunctivitis

Sept. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Infected eyes
The most common form of infected eye that presents at pharmacy is conjunctivitis. If you are experiencing severe pain or light sensitivity you may have a more serious condition and we recommend that you visit your doctor immediately.
The symptoms of conjunctivitis typically include having gunk in your eye, having difficulty opening your eye, redness and swelling of the eye lids and sometimes pain. Conjunctivitis is a very infective condition and it is easy to spread across both eyes and amongst family members. It is important that you ensure you keep your face cloth separate to other family members.
Conjunctivitis can be treated by a antibiotic eye drop or ointment like Brolene or Bleph-10. Treatment should last few a few days after the infection has gone and then you should discard the eye drops or ointment.
Please note: The drops or ointment have preservative that degrades within one month of opening. If you re-use the drops or ointment after this time you are risking getting a more severe infection in your eyes.
Conjunctivitis can mask other conditions and if you find that you are sensitive to light or are experiencing serious pain then you should visit your doctor immediately.

Dry eyes
Dry eyes are caused by a number of reasons and are easy to treat using lubricating eye drops and gel for dry eyes. For instant relief use Refresh Plus – either the single use drops or the bottle. If you suffer from dry eyes infrequently the single use drops are best as they keep the longest. Once you open the bottle you will need to discard it after 30 days.
If you have ongoing dry eyes then use a long acting product like Viscotears or Genteal can give you relief over a day.
Dry eyes can be a side effect of medication so if you are suffering from dry eyes and are taking medicine discuss this with your doctor next time you visit.

Red eyes
Red eyes can be caused by a number of things and are generally easy to treat. Red eyes are caused by the blood vessels in your eyes dilating making them appear redder than normal. They can be quite noticeable and can affect your appearance. Red eye drops are the most effective treatment and work by tightening your blood vessels in your eyes and reducing their appearance. Naphcon A and Albalon A are useful for short courses. If you suffer from red eyes on a regular basis a product like Livostin eye drops may be best for you.
With any eye condition it is important to look out for the symptoms of more serious conditions like infection. If your red eye does not improve after using drops or persists or worsens then you should go straight to your doctor. If you use contact lenses it is best to remove your contacts and give your eyes a break for a few days. If symptoms persist then see your optometrist.