Conjunctivitis overview
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Overview
Conjunctivitis (con·junc·ti·vi·tis) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids), most commonly due to an allergic reaction or an infection (usually bacterial or viral or the excess amount of fecal matter in your tear duct).
Natural History
The conjunctivitis outcome is usually good with treatment. Infective conjunctivitis resolves, in 65% of cases, within 2 – 5 days. If left untreated. Most cases of viral conjunctivitis are mild and will clear up without any complications. Most cases of bacterial conjunctivitis will clear up without any long-term consequences. However, if left untreated, in patients who have chlamydial or gonococcal conjunctivitis may cause corneal damage. This may lead to lead to permanent blindness. Hyperacute bacterial conjunctivitis is associated with corneal involvement, and therefore it has a poor long term prognosis. Allergic conjunctivitis improves by eliminating or significantly reducing contact with the allergen. If left untreated, most cases of allergic conjunctivitis may resolve without any long-term consequences[1]
Classification
Conjunctivitis may be classified based on the duration of symptoms into hyperacute, acute or chronic.[2][3] Additionally, based on the causality of the inflammation and age group, conjunctivitis may be classified into infective conjunctivitis (bacterial and viral), neonatal conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), allergic conjunctivitis, Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome), and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis.[4][5]
Pathophysiology
Conjunctivitis is defined as inflammation of bulbar and/or palpebral conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis has many etiologies, but the majority of cases can be caused by allergies, viruses, or bacteria. Viral conjunctivitis, typically caused by adenovirus, is a common, self-limiting condition. Bacterial conjunctivitis has many etiologies, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Haemophilus, Pseudomonas, and Moraxella. Allergic conjunctivitis may occur seasonally when pollen counts are high, and this type of conjunctivitis is a common occurrence in people who have other signs of allergic disease. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) is a multifactorial disease and associated with different medical conditions.[6] [7]
Causes
References
- ↑ Rose P (2007). "Management strategies for acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care: a systematic review". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 8 (12): 1903–21. doi:10.1517/14656566.8.12.1903. PMID 17696792.
- ↑ National Eye Institute (2015). [1] Accessed on June 23, 2016
- ↑ Blochmichel E, Helleboid L, Corvec MP (1993). "Chronic allergic conjunctivitis". Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 1 (1–2): 9–12. doi:10.3109/09273949309086529. PMID 22827184.
- ↑ Alfonso SA, Fawley JD, Alexa Lu X (2015). "Conjunctivitis". Prim Care. 42 (3): 325–45. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2015.05.001. PMID 26319341.
- ↑ Leonardi A, Castegnaro A, Valerio AL, Lazzarini D (2015). "Epidemiology of allergic conjunctivitis: clinical appearance and treatment patterns in a population-based study". Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 15 (5): 482–8. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000204. PMID 26258920.
- ↑ Azari AA, Barney NP (2013). "Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment". JAMA. 310 (16): 1721–9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PMC 4049531. PMID 24150468.
- ↑ Kyei S, Koffuor GA, Ramkissoon P, Abokyi S, Owusu-Afriyie O, Wiredu EA (2015). "Possible Mechanism of Action of the Antiallergic Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Heliotropium indicum L. in Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Conjunctivitis". J Allergy (Cairo). 2015: 245370. doi:10.1155/2015/245370. PMC 4657065. PMID 26681960.