Eye drops for conjunctivitis | Eye drops

Eye drops for conjunctivitis

In conjunctivitis, the affected eye is swollen, reddened and often sensitive to pressure. Conjunctivitis can have various causes. It can be allergic, for example to hay fever.

Depending on the symptoms, moisturising eye drops can improve the symptoms. Here, for example, so-called artificial tears or euphrasia, also known as “eyebright“, can be used. If these do not provide sufficient relief, alternative treatment methods, such as desensitisation, must be discussed with the doctor.

Conjunctivitis can also be caused by external stimuli such as drafts, smoke, dust or foreign bodies. Here too, moisturising eye drops can alleviate the symptoms. In the case of conjunctivitis due to a bacterial or viral infection, eye drops with other active ingredients can be prescribed by the doctor.

Both types of conjunctivitis caused by the pathogen are contagious and should therefore be treated. If bacteria are the trigger, antibiotic-containing eye drops or eye ointments are used. Depending on which bacteria are involved, different antibiotics can be used.

Viral conjunctivitis usually heals by itself and usually only requires symptom-relieving eye drops, such as Euphrasia or artificial tears. However, if the conjunctivitis is caused by herpes viruses, the administration of Aciclovir can help. When choosing eye drops, a doctor should always be consulted who can identify the cause of the conjunctivitis and initiate appropriate therapy.

Eye drops for contact lenses

By wearing contact lenses, the tear film of the eye is disturbed and the tear fluid is reduced. This can quickly lead to dry eyes and, as a result, to burning or itching. Eye drops can then help to keep the eyes moist.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind. When using soft contact lenses, the eye drops used should be absolutely free of preservatives, as otherwise the contact lenses may absorb the preservatives and attack the cornea. Eye drops containing hyaluronic acid are also very suitable, as hyaluronic acid is a substance produced naturally in the body and releases moisture to the eye.

Eye drops without preservatives and, if necessary, with hyaluronic acid can then also be applied directly to the contact-lens wearing eye. As a support, an eye ointment can also be applied at night to provide the eye with moisture. If you already know that you have a tendency to dry eyes, there are a few things you should consider when choosing your contact lenses.

A good consultation with your ophthalmologist or optician and the individual fitting of the lenses is important. The lenses should have the smallest possible diameter and be made of a material that is as permeable as possible. Meanwhile there are even special lenses for dry eyes that consist of a gel or silicone or contain a hyaluronic acid reservoir. Do you suffer from dry eyes due to contact lenses?