The white of the eye and the inner surfaces of the lids are covered by a transparent membrane called the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Causes

Conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by infection. Almost any germ, whether a bacterium or a virus, may be responsible.

Conjunctivitis in a newborn must be attended to immediately. The real concern here is that the conjunctivitis might be the result of a gonorrhoea infection acquired during birth from an infected mother.

Allergic conjunctivitis is common and is occasionally dramatic. Pollen hypersensitivity (hay fever) can cause the conjunctiva to swell and much fluid to collect behind it, so that the membrane bulges alarmingly forward between the lids.

Conjunctivitis can also result from a wide range of other causes, including:

• Toxic influences, such as chemical contamination from dusts, liquids, gases, industrial vapours or unsuitable medication.
• Radiation of various kinds, especially the ultraviolet in sunlight.
• Too much wind blowing on the eyes.
• Rarely, irritation from mascara and eye liner.

Treatment

Infective conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic drops or ointment. This is usually effective within a day or two.

In non-infective cases, steroid drops are sometimes prescribed. These will quickly relieve inflammation but may be dangerous. If the redness is due to an infection with herpes germs, steroid drops could cause a lifetime of recurrent pain and disablement and serious loss of vision in the affected eye. Steroids should never be put into an eye except by an eye specialist.

It is important that any newborn baby with sticky or inflamed eyes should be urgently treated. The doctor will take a swab for identification of the organism and will start effective antibiotic treatment at once.