Eye inflammation is generally understood to be a functional disorder or disease of the eye that is not infrequently painful. Possible signs include: Painful eyes, tearing, redness of the eyes, adhesion of the eyelids.
What is inflammation of the eye?
Ocular inflammation is the term used to describe an inflammatory reaction in the area of a person’s eyes. Ocular inflammation is the term used to describe an inflammatory reaction in the area of a person’s eyes. Most often, ocular inflammation is caused by the invasion of bacteria and often affects the conjunctiva. It can be recognized by the eye watering, possibly hurting, and the surrounding skin feeling sensitive and itchy. Often the conjunctiva is red and blood vessels are clearly visible. Occasionally, the patient is sensitive to light due to the eye inflammation and the eye is stuck together with green-yellowish mucus. Some of the best known eye inflammations in humans include conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dacryoadenitis, and stye. However, ocular inflammation can also occur in the setting of other diseases.
Causes
Ocular inflammation usually results from bacteria becoming established. They particularly often affect the conjunctiva, from where they can spread. Occasionally, exposure to drafts or allowing the eye to dry out is enough for eye inflammation to occur. Eye inflammation can result from external mechanical irritation. Dust or dry air causes the conjunctiva of the eye to react accordingly. Wearing soft contact lenses or glass eyes when one eye is lost is also a possibility of getting eye inflammation. Denatured proteins are deposited on such visual aids or prostheses and must be removed with the help of a care solution – otherwise they can have a negative effect on the conjunctiva and the inflammation can spread to the entire eye. This eventually favors the implantation of bacteria. Eye inflammations caused by caterpillar hairs or insect stings are particularly complicated. These do not have to be brought directly into the eye by the insect itself – caterpillar hairs in particular are often also carried through the air. A mechanical irritation occurs, but the eye inflammation itself is triggered by the toxic reaction. Bacterial pathogens include staphylo-, strepto- and pneumococci. Occasionally, gonococci are also the triggers of ocular inflammation. They nest especially when the eye is weakened anyway. If left untreated, this can lead to recurrent eye inflammation as soon as the eye is exposed to stress.
Diseases with this symptom
- Stye
- Hailstone
- Rheumatism
- Lyme disease
- Chorioretinitis
- Corneal inflammation
- Conjunctivitis
- Glaucoma (glaucoma)
- Contact allergy (contact dermatitis)
- Wegener’s disease
- Hay fever
- Animal hair allergy
- Rubella
- Neurodermatitis
- Iritis
Diagnosis and course
Ocular inflammation is diagnosed when the eyes are painful, watery or red (that is, when the blood vessels are clearly visible and the conjunctiva of the eye is red), when the eyelids are stuck together, as well as when the skin areas surrounding the eyes itch. For a diagnosis, one or more of the above signs may be present. With timely treatment, ocular inflammation in most cases takes a harmless course and heals completely without permanent damage to the eye or vision. Only if the cornea has been affected by the ocular inflammation can there be a permanent reduction in visual acuity.
Complications
Because the term “ocular inflammation” is very general, it is also possible to report only in general terms on possible complications. In general, it can be said that quite a few types of ocular inflammation exist, some of which differ quite considerably in their pathogenesis and symptomatology and can lead to different complications. The medical layman usually fears with every disease affecting the eye that the vision could be affected.First of all, it should be said that the complication of blindness caused by a simple inflammation of the eye, for example by a simple bacterial infection of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis = inflammation of the conjunctiva), occurs only in rare exceptional cases. Nevertheless, inflammation of the eye must be treated quickly and professionally in order to avoid complications. Possible complications that occur more frequently (but still not “often”) include superinfection and spread of the infection to the cornea. Superinfection results in colonization of the already infected tissue by other germs. Since the tissue is weakened by the pathogenic germs that already exist there, it is easier for other germs to colonize this tissue. If the infection of the eye spreads to the cornea, there is indeed a risk of weakening or, in extreme cases, even loss of vision because of the possibility of corneal opacification.
When should you go to the doctor?
In the case of eye inflammation, it is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible. If the eyes are red, burning and itchy for several days, this is a case for the doctor. It makes little sense to experiment with ointments and eye drops yourself. Often conjunctivitis is aggravated by this. If the cause of the eye inflammation is found, therapy can be applied. If the eyes burn and the songs are sticky in the morning, the visit to the doctor is strongly advised. Infection-related eye inflammation is contagious, so hygiene must be especially thorough. Antibiotic eye drops or ointments are given for bacterial conjunctivitis. A visit to the doctor is required. If the inflammation is not treated, germs can spread to the cornea and damage it permanently. If the inflammation developed as a result of draught, the doctor should look at the eye. He will recommend whether home remedies will help or whether drops should be prescribed. In the case of allergy-related eye inflammation, he prescribes antihistamines. These are also available only on prescription. Eye inflammation can be the result of glaucoma. In case of unclear causes, a visit to the doctor should be obligatory. If the inflammation was caused by a foreign body, the ophthalmologist must be consulted. Possibly even an operation is necessary. The same applies to bleeding injuries to the eye. If necessary, the sufferer must immediately go to the emergency doctor.
Treatment and therapy
If the eye inflammation is due to a mechanical irritant, the first step is to remove it. Caterpillar hairs must be surgically removed – in the case of contact lenses, it is already sufficient to wear glasses instead for a short time. Subsequently, eye drops or ointments with various active ingredients are used to restore the function of the eye after the eye inflammation. However, if the eye inflammation is bacterial, it must be treated with antibiotics. For this purpose, it is first determined what kind of bacteria it is. Then, an appropriate agent is prescribed to be applied in the form of eye drops or ointments. A painkiller may also be administered as needed.
Outlook and prognosis
Inflammation can take a very different course, as the causes of inflammation are very diverse. If it is a bacterial inflammation, it is very important to keep the eye clean and pure. Otherwise, such an inflammation can worsen immensely, resulting in the formation of pus. Without medical treatment, such an infection will continue to spread and can even lead to life-threatening blood poisoning. If the affected person seeks medical treatment, a remedy can be found quickly. A bacterial infection can be counteracted with appropriate medication, so that a rapid improvement and recovery is guaranteed. By taking antibiotics, the inflammation can be fought. A significant improvement should then be noticeable after just two to three days. Inflammation can also be caused by a foreign body. If the foreign body has damaged the retina or conjunctiva, permanent long-term damage may result if it is not treated. In addition, the affected person must not remove the foreign body himself under any circumstances. The human eye is a very sensitive organ. Therefore, only a professional should perform such a removal.Surgical procedures can be performed to repair any damage that may have occurred, and of course the degree of injury plays a significant role.
Prevention
The most effective way to prevent ocular inflammation is not to expose the eyes to any particular stress. Care should be taken with drafts, also with dry air, smoke, dust and too little light. This weakens the eye and allows bacteria to enter easily and without much trouble. For contact lens wearers, special care must be taken to prevent eye inflammation. After wearing, contact lenses must always be thoroughly cleaned in the care solution. This will remove debris that can cause eye inflammation. Lenses must also never be worn longer than intended, otherwise the risk of eye inflammation can increase considerably.
Home remedies and medicinal herbs
- Eye baths with the addition of medicinal herbs have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Prepare an infusion with the herbs (chamomile (controversial), fennel, aloe vera) and take an eye bath in an eye bath several times a day. Other options include applying gauze cloths or eye steam baths (perform under a cloth held over the head).
- Puffy eyelids and strained eyes can be eliminated by eye compresses. Soak two cotton balls with chamomile tea and put them on the closed songs for 10 minutes.
- On a stye in the eye put chamomile tea compresses as hot as possible 3 times a day for 10 minutes. After a few days, the inflammation goes and the pus comes out.
- For inflamed eyes help lukewarm compresses with chamomile tea.
What you can do yourself
Self-help measures and self-treatment for an eye inflammation should always be discussed with the ophthalmologist or pharmacist. Depending on the cause of the inflammation on or in the eye, those affected can positively influence the healing process with simple means. In all diseases of the visual organ, it is important to observe hygiene measures that protect the patient from additional contamination with germs on the one hand and family members and contacts from infection on the other. This includes, above all, thorough hand washing. Separate use of towels, disinfection of shared utensils and possibly covering the inflamed area, for example with sterile gauze compresses, are also hygiene measures to be considered. Additional irritation of the eyes by smoke, bright light or drafts should be avoided. So should mechanical irritation, for example by contact lenses. In the case of allergy-related eye irritation, the allergy-causing factors should be avoided. Cosmetic products should not be used as long as there is an infection of the eye area. Soaking gauze in cold water relieves pain and itching. If serious diseases have been medically ruled out, pharmacy products are available for the supportive treatment of irritated eyes. Artificial tears with hyaluronic acid or soothing additives such as panthenol as a cream or in drop form are particularly suitable for mild forms of inflammatory complaints of the eye.
