Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis
Other names: Pink eye
An eye with viral conjunctivitis
SpecialtyOphthalmology
SymptomsReddish eye, scratchiness[1]
DurationViral conjunctivitis: up to two weeks[2]
CausesViral, bacterial, allergies[3]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms, microbial culture[1]
PreventionHandwashing[1]
TreatmentBased on underlying cause[3]
Frequency3–6 million per year (US)[1][3]

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is inflammation of the outermost layer of the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid.[4] It makes the eye appear pink or reddish.[1] Pain, burning, scratchiness, or itchiness may occur.[1] The affected eye may have increased tears or be "stuck shut" in the morning.[1] Swelling of the white part of the eye may also occur.[1] Itching is more common in cases due to allergies.[3] Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes.[1]

The most common infectious causes are viral followed by bacterial.[3] The viral infection may occur along with other symptoms of a common cold.[1] Both viral and bacterial cases are easily spread between people.[1] Allergies to pollen or animal hair are also a common cause.[3] Diagnosis is often based on signs and symptoms.[1] Occasionally, a sample of the discharge is sent for culture.[1]

Prevention is partly by handwashing.[1] Treatment depends on the underlying cause.[1] In the majority of viral cases, there is no specific treatment.[3] Most cases due to a bacterial infection also resolve without treatment; however, antibiotics can shorten the illness.[1][3] People who wear contact lenses and those whose infection is caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia should be treated.[3] Allergic cases can be treated with antihistamines or mast cell inhibitor drops.[3]

About 3 to 6 million people get conjunctivitis each year in the United States.[1][3] In adults, viral causes are more common, while in children, bacterial causes are more common.[3] Typically, people get better in one or two weeks.[1][3] If visual loss, significant pain, sensitivity to light, signs of herpes, or if symptoms do not improve after a week, further diagnosis and treatment may be required.[3] Conjunctivitis in a newborn, known as neonatal conjunctivitis, may also require specific treatment.[1]

Signs and symptoms

Red eye, swelling of the conjunctiva, and watering of the eyes are symptoms common to all forms of conjunctivitis. However, the pupils should be normally reactive, and the visual acuity normal.

Conjunctivitis is identified by irritation and redness of the conjunctiva. Except in obvious pyogenic or toxic/chemical conjunctivitis, a slit lamp (biomicroscope) is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Examination of the eyelid conjunctiva is usually more diagnostic than examination of the scleral conjunctiva.

Viral

Viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is often associated with an infection of the upper respiratory tract, a common cold, or a sore throat. Its symptoms include excessive watering and itching. The infection usually begins in one eye but may spread easily to the other eye.

Viral conjunctivitis manifests as a fine, diffuse pinkness of the conjunctiva, which is easily mistaken for a ciliary infection of the iris (iritis), but corroborative signs on microscopy, particularly numerous lymphoid follicles on the tarsal conjunctiva, and sometimes a punctate keratitis are seen.

Allergic

An eye with allergic conjunctivitis showing conjunctival edema

Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva due to allergy.[5] The specific allergens may differ among patients. Symptoms result from the release of histamine and other active substances by mast cells, and consist of redness (mainly due to vasodilation of the peripheral small blood vessels), swelling of the conjunctiva, itching, and increased production of tears.

Bacterial

An eye with bacterial conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes the rapid onset of conjunctival redness, swelling of the eyelid, and a sticky discharge. Typically, symptoms develop first in one eye, but may spread to the other eye within 2–5 days. Conjunctivitis due to common pus-producing bacteria causes marked grittiness or irritation and a stringy, opaque, greyish or yellowish discharge that may cause the lids to stick together, especially after sleep. Severe crusting of the infected eye and the surrounding skin may also occur. The gritty or scratchy feeling is sometimes localized enough that patients may insist that they have a foreign body in the eye.

Common bacteria responsible for nonacute bacterial conjunctivitis are Staphylococcus, Streptococcus,[6] and Haemophilus species. Less commonly, Chlamydia spp. may be the cause.[7]

Typical membranous conjunctivitis

Bacteria such as Chlamydia trachomatis or Moraxella spp. can cause a nonexudative but persistent conjunctivitis without much redness. Bacterial conjunctivitis may cause the production of membranes or pseudomembranes that cover the conjunctiva. Pseudomembranes consist of a combination of inflammatory cells and exudates and adhere loosely to the conjunctiva, while true membranes are more tightly adherent and cannot be easily peeled away. Cases of bacterial conjunctivitis that involve the production of membranes or pseudomembranes are associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, β-hemolytic streptococci, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. C. diphtheriae causes membrane formation in conjunctiva of unimmunized children.[8]

Chemical

Chemical eye injury may result when an acidic or alkaline substance gets in the eye.[9] Alkali burns are typically worse than acidic burns.[10] Mild burns produce conjunctivitis, while more severe burns may cause the cornea to turn white.[10] Litmus paper may be used to test for chemical causes.[9] When a chemical cause has been confirmed, the eye or eyes should be flushed until the pH is in the range 6–8.[10] Anaesthetic eye drops can be used to decrease the pain.[10]

Irritant or toxic conjunctivitis is primarily marked by redness. If due to a chemical splash, it is often present in only the lower conjunctival sac. With some chemicals, above all with caustic alkalis such as sodium hydroxide, necrosis of the conjunctiva marked by a deceptively white eye due to vascular closure may occur, followed by sloughing off of the dead epithelium. A slit lamp examination is likely to show evidence of anterior uveitis.

Other

An eye with chlamydial conjunctivitis

Inclusion conjunctivitis of the newborn is a conjunctivitis that may be caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, and may lead to acute, purulent conjunctivitis.[11] However, it is usually self-healing.[11]

Causes

Infective conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by a virus.[3] Bacterial infections, allergies, other irritants, and dryness are also common causes. Both bacterial and viral infections are contagious, passing from person to person or spread through contaminated objects or water. Contact with contaminated fingers is a common cause of conjunctivitis. Bacteria may also reach the conjunctiva from the edges of the eyelids and the surrounding skin, from the nasopharynx, from infected eye drops or contact lenses, from the genitals or the bloodstream.[12] Infection by human adenovirus accounts for 65% to 90% of cases of viral conjunctivitis.[13]

Viral

Adenoviruses are the most common cause of viral conjunctivitis (adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis).[14] Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis, caused by herpes simplex viruses, can be serious and requires treatment with aciclovir. Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis is a highly contagious disease caused by one of two enteroviruses, enterovirus 70 and coxsackievirus A24. These were first identified in an outbreak in Ghana in 1969, and have spread worldwide since then, causing several epidemics.[15]

Bacterial

The most common causes of acute bacterial conjunctivitis are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae.[14][16] Though very rare, hyperacute cases are usually caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Neisseria meningitidis. Chronic cases of bacterial conjunctivitis are those lasting longer than 3 weeks, and are typically caused by S. aureus, Moraxella lacunata, or Gram-negative enteric flora.

Allergic

Conjunctivitis may also be caused by allergens such as pollen, perfumes, cosmetics, smoke,[17] dust mites, Balsam of Peru,[18] or eye drops.[19] The most frequent cause of conjunctivitis is allergic conjunctivitis and it affects 15% to 40% of the population.[20] Allergic conjunctivitis accounts for 15% of eye related primary care consultations - most including seasonal exposures in the spring and summer or perpetual conditions.[21]

Other

Conjunctivitis is part of the triad of reactive arthritis, which is thought to be caused by autoimmune cross-reactivity following certain bacterial infections. Reactive arthritis is highly associated with HLA-B27. Conjunctivitis is associated with the autoimmune disease relapsing polychondritis.[22][23]

Diagnosis

Cultures are not often taken or needed as most cases resolve either with time or typical antibiotics. If bacterial conjunctivitis is suspected, but no response to topical antibiotics is seen, swabs for bacterial culture should be taken and tested. Viral culture may be appropriate in epidemic case clusters.

A patch test is used to identify the causative allergen in allergic conjunctivitis.[24]

Although conjunctival scrapes for cytology can be useful in detecting chlamydial and fungal infections, allergy, and dysplasia, they are rarely done because of the cost and the general dearth of laboratory staff experienced in handling ocular specimens. Conjunctival incisional biopsy is occasionally done when granulomatous diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis) or dysplasia are suspected.

Classification

Conjunctivitis may be classified either by cause or by extent of the inflamed area.

Causes

  • Allergy
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Chemicals
  • Autoimmune

Neonatal conjunctivitis is often grouped separately from bacterial conjunctivitis because it is caused by different bacteria than the more common cases of bacterial conjunctivitis.

By extent of involvement

Blepharoconjunctivitis is the dual combination of conjunctivitis with blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).

Keratoconjunctivitis is the combination of conjunctivitis and keratitis (corneal inflammation).

Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis is the combination of conjunctivitis with blepharitis and keratitis. It is clinically defined by changes of the lid margin, meibomian gland dysfunction, redness of the eye, conjunctival chemosis and inflammation of the cornea.[25]

Differential diagnosis

Some more serious conditions can present with a red eye, such as infectious keratitis, angle-closure glaucoma, or iritis. These conditions require the urgent attention of an ophthalmologist. Signs of such conditions include decreased vision, significantly increased sensitivity to light, inability to keep the eye open, a pupil that does not respond to light, or a severe headache with nausea.[26] Fluctuating blurring is common, due to tearing and mucoid discharge. Mild photophobia is common. However, if any of these symptoms is prominent, considering other diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis, keratitis, and even meningitis or carotico-cavernous fistula is important.

A more comprehensive differential diagnosis for the red or painful eye includes:[26]

Prevention

The most effective prevention is good hygiene, especially avoiding rubbing the eyes with infected hands. Vaccination against adenovirus, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus, and Neisseria meningitidis is also effective.[27]

Povidone-iodine eye solution has been found to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis.[28] It is becoming more commonly used globally because of its low cost.[28]

Management

Conjunctivitis resolves in 65% of cases without treatment, within 2–5 days. The prescription of antibiotics is not necessary in most cases.[29]

Viral

Viral conjunctivitis usually resolves on its own and does not require any specific treatment.[3] Antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) or mast cell stabilizers (e.g., cromolyn) may be used to help with the symptoms.[3] Povidone-iodine has been suggested as a treatment, but as of 2008, evidence to support it was poor.[30]

Allergic

For allergic conjunctivitis, cool water poured over the face with the head inclined downward constricts capillaries, and artificial tears sometimes relieve discomfort in mild cases. In more severe cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and antihistamines may be prescribed. Persistent allergic conjunctivitis may also require topical steroid drops.

Bacterial

Bacterial conjunctivitis usually resolves without treatment.[3] Topical antibiotics may be needed only if no improvement is observed after 3 days.[31] No serious effects were noted either with or without treatment.[32] Because antibiotics do speed healing in bacterial conjunctivitis, their use may be considered.[32] Antibiotics are also recommended for those who wear contact lenses, are immunocompromised, have disease which is thought to be due to chlamydia or gonorrhea, have a fair bit of pain, or have copious discharge.[3] Gonorrheal or chlamydial infections require both oral and topical antibiotics.[3]

The choice of antibiotic varies based on the strain or suspected strain of bacteria causing the infection. Fluoroquinolones, sodium sulfacetamide, or trimethoprim/polymyxin may be used, typically for 7–10 days.[14] Cases of meningococcal conjunctivitis can also be treated with systemic penicillin, as long as the strain is sensitive to penicillin.

When investigated as a treatment, povidone-iodine ophthalmic solution has also been observed to have some effectiveness against bacterial and chlamydial conjunctivitis, with a possible role suggested in locations where topical antibiotics are unavailable or costly.[33]

Chemical

Conjunctivitis due to chemicals is treated via irrigation with Ringer's lactate or saline solution. Chemical injuries, particularly alkali burns, are medical emergencies, as they can lead to severe scarring and intraocular damage. People with chemically induced conjunctivitis should not touch their eyes to avoid spreading the chemical.

Epidemiology

Conjunctivitis is the most common eye disease.[34] Rates of disease is related to the underlying cause which varies by the age as well as the time of year. Acute conjunctivitis is most frequently found in infants, school-age children and the elderly.[12] The most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis is viral conjunctivitis.[20]

It is estimated that acute conjunctivitis affects 6 million people annually in the United States.[3]

Some seasonal trends have been observed for the occurrence of different forms of conjunctivitis. The occurrence of bacterial conjunctivitis peaks from December to April, viral conjunctivitis peaks in the summer months and allergic conjunctivitis is more prevalent throughout the spring and summer.[12]

History

An adenovirus was first isolated by Rowe et al. in 1953. Two years later, Jawetz et al. published on epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.[35]: 437  "Madras eye" is a colloquial term that has been used in India for the disease.

Society and culture

Conjunctivitis imposes economic and social burdens. The cost of treating bacterial conjunctivitis alone was estimated to be $377 million to $857 million per year.[3] Approximately 1% of all primary care office visits in the United States are related to conjunctivitis. Approximately 70% of all people with acute conjunctivitis present to primary care and urgent care.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Facts About Pink Eye". National Eye Institute. November 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Long, Sarah S.; Prober, Charles G.; Fischer, Marc (2017). Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 502. ISBN 9780323461320. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Azari AA, Barney NP (October 2013). "Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment". JAMA. 310 (16): 1721–9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PMC 4049531. PMID 24150468.
  4. ↑ Richards A, Guzman-Cottrill JA (May 2010). "Conjunctivitis". Pediatrics in Review. 31 (5): 196–208. doi:10.1542/pir.31-5-196. PMID 20435711.
  5. ↑ Bielory L, Friedlaender MH (February 2008). "Allergic conjunctivitis". Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 28 (1): 43–58, vi. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2007.12.005. PMID 18282545.
  6. ↑ "Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)". MedicineNet. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Acute Bacterial Conjunctivitis – Eye Disorders". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  8. ↑ Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe C, eds. (2015). Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. p. 112. ISBN 978-0990449119.
  9. 1 2 Zentani A, Burslem J (December 2009). "Towards evidence based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET 4: use of litmus paper in chemical eye injury". Emergency Medicine Journal. 26 (12): 887. doi:10.1136/emj.2009.086124. PMID 19934140.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Hodge C, Lawless M (July 2008). "Ocular emergencies". Australian Family Physician. 37 (7): 506–9. PMID 18592066.
  11. 1 2 Fisher, Bruce; Harvey, Richard P.; Champe, Pamela C. (2007). Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Microbiology (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series). Hagerstown MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-8215-9.
  12. 1 2 3 Høvding G (February 2008). "Acute bacterial conjunctivitis". Acta Ophthalmologica. 86 (1): 5–17. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0420.2007.01006.x. PMID 17970823.
  13. ↑ Singh MP, Ram J, Kumar A, Rungta T, Gupta A, Khurana J, Ratho RK (2018). "Molecular epidemiology of circulating human adenovirus types in acute conjunctivitis cases in Chandigarh, North India". Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology. 36 (1): 113–115. doi:10.4103/ijmm.ijmm_17_258. PMID 29735838.
  14. 1 2 3 Yanoff, Myron; Duker, Jay S. (2008). Ophthalmology (3rd ed.). Edinburgh: Mosby. pp. 227–236. ISBN 978-0-323-05751-6.
  15. ↑ Lévêque N, Huguet P, Norder H, Chomel JJ (April 2010). "[Enteroviruses responsible for acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis]". Medecine et Maladies Infectieuses (in French). 40 (4): 212–8. doi:10.1016/j.medmal.2009.09.006. PMID 19836177.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  16. ↑ CDC (2 October 2017). "Protect Yourself From Pink Eye". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  17. ↑ "Allergic Conjunctivitis". familydoctor.org. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  18. ↑ Brooks, Pamela (25 October 2012). The Daily Telegraph: Complete Guide to Allergies. ISBN 9781472103949. Retrieved 15 April 2014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ↑ "What Is Allergic Conjunctivitis? What Causes Allergic Conjunctivitis?". medicalnewstoday.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  20. 1 2 Mourad, Mervat Salah; Rihan, Rafat Ali (April 2018). "Prevalence of Different Eye Diseases excluding Refractive Errors Presented at the Outpatient Clinic in Beheira Eye Hospital". The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine. 71 (2): 2484–2489. doi:10.12816/0045645. S2CID 80882721.
  21. ↑ Perkin MR, Bader T, Rudnicka AR, Strachan DP, Owen CG (24 November 2015). "Inter-Relationship between Rhinitis and Conjunctivitis in Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis and Associated Risk Factors in Rural UK Children". PLOS ONE. 10 (11): e0143651. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1043651P. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0143651. PMC 4658044. PMID 26600465.
  22. ↑ Puéchal X, Terrier B, Mouthon L, Costedoat-Chalumeau N, Guillevin L, Le Jeunne C (March 2014). "Relapsing polychondritis". Joint, Bone, Spine. 81 (2): 118–24. doi:10.1016/j.jbspin.2014.01.001. PMID 24556284. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Cantarini L, Vitale A, Brizi MG, Caso F, Frediani B, Punzi L, et al. (2014). "Diagnosis and classification of relapsing polychondritis". Journal of Autoimmunity. 48–49: 53–9. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2014.01.026. PMID 24461536.
  24. ↑ Mannis, Mark J.; Macsai, Marian S.; Huntley, Arthur C. (1996). Eye and skin disease. Lippincott-Raven. ISBN 9780781702690. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  25. ↑ O'Gallagher M, Banteka M, Bunce C, Larkin F, Tuft S, Dahlmann-Noor A (May 2016). "Systemic treatment for blepharokeratoconjunctivitis in children". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (5): CD011750. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011750.pub2. PMID 27236587.
  26. 1 2 Longo DL (2012). "Disorders of the Eye(Horton JC)". Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGra-Hill.
  27. ↑ "Protect Yourself From Pink Eye". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  28. 1 2 Isenberg SJ (2003). "The ocular application of povidone-iodine". Community Eye Health. 16 (46): 30–1. PMC 1705857. PMID 17491857.
  29. ↑ Rose P (August 2007). "Management strategies for acute infective conjunctivitis in primary care: a systematic review". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 8 (12): 1903–21. doi:10.1517/14656566.8.12.1903. PMID 17696792.
  30. ↑ Bartlett, Jimmy D.; Jaanus, Siret D. (2008). Clinical Ocular Pharmacology. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 454–. ISBN 978-0-7506-7576-5. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016.
  31. ↑ Visscher KL, Hutnik CM, Thomas M (November 2009). "Evidence-based treatment of acute infective conjunctivitis: Breaking the cycle of antibiotic prescribing". Canadian Family Physician. 55 (11): 1071–5. PMC 2776793. PMID 19910590.
  32. 1 2 Sheikh A, Hurwitz B, van Schayck CP, McLean S, Nurmatov U (September 2012). "Antibiotics versus placebo for acute bacterial conjunctivitis". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 9 (9): CD001211. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001211.pub3. PMID 22972049.
  33. ↑ Isenberg SJ, Apt L, Valenton M, Del Signore M, Cubillan L, Labrador MA, et al. (November 2002). "A controlled trial of povidone-iodine to treat infectious conjunctivitis in children". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 134 (5): 681–8. doi:10.1016/S0002-9394(02)01701-4. PMID 12429243.
  34. ↑ Smeltzer, Suzanne C. (2010). Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical nursing (12th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 1787. ISBN 9780781785891. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016.
  35. ↑ Jhanji V, Chan TC, Li EY, Agarwal K, Vajpayee RB (September–October 2015). "Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis". Survey of Ophthalmology. 60 (5): 435–43. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2015.04.001. PMID 26077630.
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