Synonyms
Conjunctivitis, Conjunctivitis English: conjunctivitis, pinkeyeIn the treatment of conjunctivitis, one must again distinguish between the different forms of conjunctivitis. The non-specific conjunctivitis is usually treated with tear substitutes. What should by no means be used in the treatment are eye drops containing cortisone, because these even increase the dryness of the eyes.
There is also the danger that the intraocular pressure increases. In hay fever conjunctivitis, anti-allergic eye drops are administered during treatment. If the conjunctivitis is associated with atopic diseases such as neurodermatitis, antibiotics and steroids (cortisone) are administered locally.
In case of cosmetic intolerance the motto is of course not to use the triggering allergen – in this case the cosmetic product. If there is a conjunctivitis caused by viruses, it has to be treated with appropriate antiviral agents. Newborns are treated – like adults – with erythromycin eye drops for chlamydia and with acyclovir for herpes. If bacteria are the cause of conjunctivitis, antibiotics are used for treatment. Dexa- gentamicin eye drops or ointments are often prescribed for conjunctivitis of the eye, which usually leads to an improvement of the symptoms after only a few days.
What do I have to consider during therapy?
Conjunctivitis can have many different causes. These must be found out before the therapy is initiated so that the treatment can be adjusted accordingly. In general, care should be taken not to expose the irritated eye to additional stimuli such as draughts or dust in the case of conjunctivitis.
This could worsen the inflammation. Rubbing the eye should also be avoided. On the one hand, in order not to put additional strain on the eye, and on the other hand to prevent a possible transmission of the pathogens to fellow humans.
Maintaining strict hygiene is very important in the course of therapy. Regular hand washing should also be observed. If it is conjunctivitis, which is caused by mechanical stimuli, the first measure of therapy is to remove or avoid the trigger.
This may be due to sunlight, contact lenses or exposure to dust. Conjunctivitis usually heals by itself after a few days and does not require further therapy. Even very dry eyes can lead to conjunctivitis.
In this case tear substitutes can be used for treatment. Eye drops containing cortisone should not be used, however, as the dryness is further aggravated by this. In the case of an allergy-induced conjunctivitis, it must first be determined which allergen causes the symptoms.
This is often pollen or animal hair. The allergen should be avoided as permanently as possible. In the case of a pollen allergy, desensitization is a possible therapy option.
There are also eye drops and other medicines that can be used during the hay fever season to relieve the symptoms. If the conjunctivitis has a bacterial cause, antibiotic-containing medication is used. As a rule, local treatment with eye drops or eye ointment is sufficient.
If viruses are the cause of conjunctivitis, in most cases there is no special therapy. The symptoms disappear of their own accord after a few days. However, if herpes viruses are the trigger of the inflammation, a relief can be achieved by the administration of acyclovir.
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