Most common eye conditions are more bothersome than serious. Your eyes may become red, itchy, irritated, watery, dry or droopy - no fun, to be sure - but with proper care your sight should return to normal. These conditions may involve a doctor visit and, in any case, require following the recommended treatment at home. Several common eye problems are described along with guidelines for treating them.
 |
| Improve Your Eyesight Naturally |
Red or irritated eyes
Exhaustion, eyestrain, lack of sleep or the use of alcohol can turn the conjunctiva of your eye red. The conjunctiva is the clear, delicate membrane that lines the inside of your eyelids and covers the white (sclera) of your eye. If the redness happens only occasionally and clears up quickly, you probably have little to worry about. But persistent redness, especially when accompanied by irritation or pain, can signal a more serious problem.
Conjunctivitis (kun-junk-tih-VI-tis), an inflammation of the conjunctiva, is the most common cause of persistent redness in an eye. Conjunctivitis may be caused by a viral infection, a bacterial infection or an allergic reaction. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are common among children and are extremely infectious. Conjunctivitis caused by an allergic reaction stems from exposure to an allergen, a substance that irritates the eye. Allergens and allergen-like substances can be anything from dust or animal fur to spray perfumes, household cleaners or smog.
All forms of conjunctivitis share common symptoms. Most noticeably inflammation causes the small blood vessels of the conjunctiva to become more prominent, giving the normally white sclera of your eye a reddish or pinkish coloration - in fact, one form of this condition is commonly called pinkeye. Your eye often itches. You may notice a gritty feeling in your eye when you blink, as if fine grains of sand were lodged under the eyelids. You may wake up in the morning with your eyelids crusted from mucous discharge. You may have blurred vision and be oversensitive to light.
Conjunctivitis can be an irritating condition, but it's usually harmless to sight and typically doesn't require extensive treatment. Yet because some forms of conjunctivitis are highly contagious, it's important to seek treatment early. If you develop symptoms of conjunctivitis, take steps to prevent the infection from spreading. Schedule a visit with your doctor. He or she may examine your eyes for swelling and discharge. After learning when and how the symptoms began, your doctor can usually determine what form of conjunctivitis you have.
Viral conjunctivitis, or pinkeye
The viral form of conjunctivitis, known as pinkeye, is familiar to many parents because it's so common among children and can spread quickly through a classroom. Pinkeye may be unpleasant to look at and even more unpleasant to have, but it's usually harmless to sight.
Pinkeye typically spreads through contact with contaminated tears or nasal fluids. Symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days after you've been infected. The disorder often affects one eye first and the other within a few days. Pinkeye produces a watery or mucous discharge. It can develop during or after a cold, and it may be accompanied by a sore throat and swelling of the small lymph glands in front of your ears.
Treatment. Unfortunately, you need to wait for viral conjunctivitis to go away on its own - which usually takes a week or two. Antibiotics won't help this viral infection.
 |
| Improve Your Eyesight Naturally |
As when you have a cold, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. If the infection doesn't clear up, you may need to consult your doctor. You can soothe the discomfort of conjunctivitis by applying a warm or cold compress to the affected eye. Soak a clean, lint-free cloth in water, squeeze it dry and lay it over your closed eyelids.
Artificial tears also may help. You can wipe away any discharge with a moistened, disposable tissue or a clean cotton ball. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward. To find out more, you can check out Improve Your Eyesight Naturally.