How long does conjunctivitis last
La conjunctivitis It is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the white part of the eye. This disease is very common and causes very annoying symptoms such as itching, eye discharge, excess rheum, tearing and red eyes.
Most patients with this disease go to the ophthalmological consultation with the same question: how long does conjunctivitis last? And it is that the discomfort is so annoying that it is necessary to know how long you have to live with this condition.
How long does conjunctivitis last
La conjunctivitis It is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the white part of the eye. This disease is very common and causes very annoying symptoms such as itching, eye discharge, excess rheum, tearing and red eyes.
Most patients with this disease go to the ophthalmological consultation with the same question: how long does conjunctivitis last? And it is that the discomfort is so annoying that it is necessary to know how long you have to live with this condition.
Duration of conjunctivitis according to types
Conjunctivitis is usually a disease that lasts a short time and control of your symptoms may vary by type of conjunctivitis and whether or not the disease is being treated correctly. For this reason it is important to go to the ophthalmologist when the first symptoms appear. symptoms of conjunctivitis, since the correct and early diagnosis is key in the duration of this disease.
How long does conjunctivitis last? Inflammation of the conjunctiva usually lasts between 5 and 10 days, and may vary depending on the type of conjunctivitis:
- Bacterial conjunctivitis: This conjunctivitis is highly contagious and is caused by the proliferation of bacteria that generates an infection in the conjunctiva. This conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic eye drops and usually lasts between 7 and 10 days. If after this period the symptoms have not improved, it is advisable to return to the ophthalmologist.
- Viral conjunctivitis: It is caused by a virus and usually heals on its own with the passing of days. Like bacterial conjunctivitis, this condition is highly contagious and lasts the longest, as it can take between one and two weeks to heal.
- irritative conjunctivitis: It is caused by irritating factors such as tobacco smoke. This conjunctivitis can last a couple of days or more, depending on the cause of the irritation.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: It is caused by an allergenic agent such as pollen or mites and can be accompanied by other conditions such as rhinitis and urticaria. The inflammation subsides once you are no longer in contact with the allergen. However, it is necessary to use antihistamine eye drops to stop the excessive reaction of the immune system. The duration to cure allergic conjunctivitis will depend on the degree of allergy and exposure suffered by the patient.
It is important to note that going quickly to the ophthalmologist, following the medical indications to the letter and maintaining an exhaustive cleaning of the ocular structure are fundamental aspects to reduce the duration of conjunctivitis.
How do I know if I can return to normal life?
All the viral and bacterial conjunctivitis They are highly contagious diseases and it is very important to make sure that the disease has been completely cured before returning to normal life, since it is important not to become propagators of this disease.
Determining the time that conjunctivitis is contagious and when is the ideal time to suspend rest is complicated, since all this depends on the health status of each patient. The most advisable is resume normal life once symptoms have completely disappeared, and by this we mean that the eyes are no longer red, there are no secretions or crusts on the eyelashes and the tearing has stopped.
When to go to the ophthalmologist
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye diseases in ophthalmology and its early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent inflammation from becoming a chronic problem. Because conjunctivitis is a very common disease, many people tend to self-medicate, and sadly this makes the condition worse.
Whenever symptoms of conjunctivitis occur, we must go immediately to the ophthalmologist to detect what has been the cause of this disease. And is that the treatment of conjunctivitis is different depending on its type. Therefore, applying any eye drops indiscriminately to the eye will not be effective in curing this disease.
Ideally, the ophthalmologist should examine the ocular structure and, depending on the type of conjunctivitis the patient has and the symptoms, prescribe a complete treatment to combat the condition and improve it. Conjunctivitis is usually treated with eye drops, and the content of these eye drops may vary depending on the cause of the disease.
Another reason to go to the ophthalmologist if you have conjunctivitis is that many of the eye drops for conjunctivitis are sold with a prescription. Also, sometimes the clinical condition of the patient makes us prescribe, in addition to eye drops, oral medications that can be prescription or nonprescription.
In conclusion, whenever there is discomfort in the ocular structure, it is important to go to the ophthalmologist, check the eyes and prevent major long-term problems.
