CONJUNCTIVITIS

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is caused by an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eye. When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they become more visible, causing redness.

The symptoms of conjunctivitis usually last a couple of weeks and will resolve themselves without medical intervention.

How do I know if I have conjunctivitis?

The most common symptoms of conjunctivitis are when the eye is:

• Bloodshot

• Burns or feels gritty

• Produces pus that sticks to lashes

• Itchy

• Watery

If you notice the above symptoms, you should not wear contact lenses or eye makeup until your eyes are better.

Is there a treatment for conjunctivitis?

There are treatments you can implement yourself at home to ease the symptoms. You will need clean cotton wool (a different piece for each eye), and boiling water, which you have allowed to cool down before use.

Gently rub your eyelashes to clean off the crust and then hold a piece of cold cotton wool on your eye for a few moments to cool them down.

How do I get help?

If you feel you need further assistance, speak to your local pharmacist and they’ll be able to give you advice and suggest a course of action to help combat your symptoms. You can also book an appointment with your Optician.

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