Conjunctivitis and Viral Conjunctivitis
- What it is
Conjunctivitis refers to inflammation of the thin, translucent tissue (the "conjunctiva") that lines the white part of the eye.
When the term conjunctivitis is used, it usually refers to "pink eye" or "sore eyes" – an infection of the conjunctiva usually due to a virus, or less commonly due to bacteria. This is typically an acute infection associated with flu-like symptoms and is extremely contagious. Fortunately, viral conjunctivitis will commonly recover on its own, although this may take anywhere from one to three weeks.
Other common cause of conjunctivitis may include:
- Allergies ("allergic conjunctivitis") – common in patients with underlying allergic disease such as eczema, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.
- Blepharitis ("blepharoconjunctivitis") – due to excessive oiliness and inflammation of the eye lids.
