Eye catarrh

Eye catarrh

Catarrh of the eye, or eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the thin mucous membrane that covers the inside of the eyelid and the white of the eye. With an eye catarrh, you get watery and red eyes. Catarrh of the eye is easily contagious, and is one of the most common reasons for contact with the doctor.

What is catarrh of the eye?

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin mucous membrane that covers the inside of the eyelid and the white of the eye. Eye catarrh is most common in young children and the elderly. An eye catarrh can be caused by both bacteria and viruses, but is not a danger to vision.

Symptoms

• Redness, itching and burning from one or both eyes.

• Feeling of "having something in the eye".

• Watery eyes.

• Re-glued eyelid after sleep.

• Yellowish pus formation in the eye.

Catarrh of the eye is easily transmitted by direct contact with the fingers or via droplet infection. Often the symptoms start in one eye, but can quickly appear in the other eye as well. Others in the same family are also easily infected if someone in the family has contracted eye catarrh.

What causes cataracts?

What is called infectious eye catarrh is caused by bacteria or viruses; this type of eye catarrh is easily contagious. However, dust, sand, pollen or other foreign bodies that get on the eye can also cause inflammation in the eye. Allergies can also lead to inflammation in the eye.

In infants, a blocked or partially blocked tear duct can result in less effective cleaning of the eye. The white of the eye usually does not turn red if the cause of the cataract is a blocked tear duct. Clogged tear ducts often only cause cataracts in one eye.

Adults with very dry eyes have an increased risk of getting cataracts, and people who have diseases (for example, Sjøgren's syndrome) or use medicines that cause dry eyes (for example, antidepressants) should therefore be careful with regular eye drops.

Good advice for eye catarrh

• Good hand hygiene with frequent hand washing is important to limit infection.

• Anyone who is infected should have their own towel.

• Do not use contact lenses or eye make-up until the eye inflammation is gone.

• Remove pus from the eyes using a disposable cloth or sterile swabs moistened with eye cleaner or sterile physiological saline.

• Clean and wash the eyes by rinsing or instilling with sterile physiological saline several times a day.

• When cleaning the eye, wipe from the outer to the inner corner of the eye to limit the spread of pus. Wash thoroughly afterwards.

• If the eye catarrh is caused by bacteria or a virus, it may be a good idea to throw away old eye make-up, so that you don't get infected again.

• In the elderly, regular instillation with artificial tear fluid can be preventive.

For two out of three who have eye catarrh, the inflammation goes away on its own without treatment. If it is a virus that is the cause of the cataract, it will go away on its own after five to ten days. If bacteria are the cause, it can take up to two weeks for the eye catarrh to go away without treatment.

Treatment and good advice when using prescription eye drops/ointment

Cataracts caused by infection with bacteria can be treated with antibiotics in the form of eye drops and possibly eye ointment. Such treatment will be able to shorten the course of the disease. It is recommended to treat both eyes, even if only one eye has a visible infection. Unless otherwise agreed with the doctor, we recommend treating for up to two days after the symptoms have disappeared. Then you prevent the infection from returning easily.

As a rule, eye drops and eye ointments should only be used for 4 weeks after opening.

At the pharmacy, eye drops and eye ointments are often kept in a refrigerator, but most of these preparations can be kept at room temperature. Ask the pharmacy if you are unsure!

Always read the package insert carefully before use.

If the cataract is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not have an effect.

Can the child go to kindergarten and school?

The child does not need to stay home from nursery or school if he has mild to moderate catarrh of the eyes. The Institute of Public Health states that there is no basis for children with symptoms of eye catarrh to be kept at home until an examination or treatment with eye drops is started.

If the child has a severe eye catarrh with a lot of pus formation, the child should, due to the risk of infecting other children, stay at home until the pus formation subsides.

Remember that it is always the child's general condition that determines whether he should be home from daycare or school.

Tips for giving eye drops to children

• Remove pus from the child's eye with a soft compress/tupfer moistened with a little eye bath water (sterile physiological saline)

• Carefully pull the lower eyelid down and drip the eye drop into the eyelid margin. Eye ointment is applied as a strip along the inside edge of the eyelid.

• Then make the child blink

• For small children, it may be easier to give eye drops when the child is lying down, either on an adult's lap or on a cushion on the sofa

When should you contact a doctor about eye catarrh?

• If the eye is red and irritated and possibly has pus over several days.

• In the case of eye catarrh in the child's first weeks of life.

• If you suspect that there is a foreign body in the eye or damage to the eye.

• In case of pain and lightheadedness, or if the vision becomes blurred.

• If treatment of eye catarrh with antibiotics does not improve after 4 days.

• In case of frequent unilateral eye catarrh in infants.

• When using contact lenses - it is important that an eye catarrh in such cases is treated quickly, because the eye catarrh can more easily develop into a serious eye infection (keratitis).