At Home with Dr Christian Jessen - 133

EXPERT
EYECARE
GUIDE

P INK E YE ( C ONJUNCTI VI TI S)

This common
condition causes
redness and
swelling of the
conjunctiva,
the mucous
membrane that lines the eyelid and eye
surface. The lining of the eye is usually
clear. If irritation or infection occurs, the
lining becomes red and swollen.

as a cold, you have diabetes or another
condition that weakens your immune
system (you may become more prone
to infections), or you are taking
corticosteroids (steroids).
CAUSES: The infection or inﬂammation
is most commonly caused by bacteria
or a virus. Other causes could be an
allergic reaction, for example, to eye
make-up or shampoo, or something
irritating the conjunctiva, such as a loose
eyelash (known as irritant conjunctivitis).

SYMPTOMS: These usually begin in
one eye; however, after a few days,
you might ﬁnd the other eye is infected,
too. The most common symptoms are
TREATMENT: If it is an infection, you
reddening of the eye; watering eyes;
can treat it at home by removing any
a sticky coating on eyelashes; soreness
contact lenses, using lubricant eye
and swollen eyelids. A GP might be
drops, gently cleaning away sticky
able to distinguish the cause and which
discharge and washing your hands
type of infection it is based on how long
regularly. Antibiotics are not usually
it takes to heal. You are more likely to
prescribed for infective conjunctivitis
develop infective conjunctivitis if you
because they make little difference to
have been in close contact with
recovery; however, if the infection is
someone who is already
particularly severe or has lasted
infected with it. Don't share
for more than two weeks,
pillows or towels with
your GP might prescribe
anyone with the infection.
chloramphenicol (eye
You are more at risk
drops) or fusidic acid.
of getting conjunctivitis
Contact your GP
if you are very young
immediately if you have
or very old, you have
eye pain, if your eyes
CONJUNCTIVITIS
recently had an upper
become sensitive to light or
CAN BE
respiratory tract infection, such CONTAGIOUS
if you experience vision loss.

UVE IT IS

This condition
occurs when
the middle
layer of an
eye, called
the uvea or
uveal tract, is inﬂamed. Your iris (the
part of your eye that gives it colour),
the ciliary body (a small ring-like muscle
that sits behind your iris) and the
choroid (a layer of tissue between your
retina and your sclera, containing blood
vessels and a pigment that absorbs
excess light) all form the uveal tract.
It's quite uncommon, with only two
to ﬁve people of every 10,000 affected
annually in the UK. However, uveitis
is a leading cause of visual impairment,
therefore early diagnosis is vital.
SYMPTOMS: Common signs of uveitis
are: pain in one or both eyes; redness
of the eye; blurred vision; sensitivity to
light; ﬂoaters (shadows that move across
your ﬁeld of vision; see pg 128).

CAUSES: Although sometimes the result
of an infection, uveitis is thought to be
related to a problem with your body's
immune system. Autoimmune diseases
that are associated with uveitis include
rheumatoid arthritis and Behçet's disease
(swelling of blood vessels and tissues).
TREATMENT: Steroid medication
(corticosteroids) is the main form of
treatment. These work by disrupting
the normal functioning of your immune
system so that it doesn't release the
chemicals that cause inﬂammation.
Eye drops are usually the ﬁrst type of
corticosteroids prescribed. The Royal
College of Ophthalmologists (www.
rcophth.ac.uk) states: 'Patients with
uveitis have an increased risk of
developing cataract and glaucoma,
both of which can be challenging to
manage, particularly in the presence
of active uveitis. Vitrectomy - surgery
to remove some or all of the vitreous
humour from the eye - may be required.'

STYE
(HORDEOLUM)

A stye is a small abscess
(a painful collection of
pus) on the eyelid. It
appears as a small lump
on the outside or inside
of the eyelid. It is also known as a hordeolum.

SYMPTOMS: These include a watery eye, a
red eye or eyelid as well as a small bump inside
or outside of the lid, which is painful in both sites.
CAUSES: It's mainly an infection from bacteria.
Long-term blepharitis (inﬂammation of the eyelids)
may also increase the risk. Styes are fairly
common in all ages and a person may have one
or two styes at different times during their lifetime.
An external stye may be caused by an
infection of an eyelash follicle, an infection of the
sebaceous gland (which produces a substance
called sebum to lubricate your eyelashes) or an
infection of the apocrine gland (a sweat gland).
An internal stye is caused by an infection of
the meibomian gland; this is found on the eyelid
and produces a fatty liquid which makes up part
of the tear ﬁlm that covers your eye.
TREATMENT: Most styes get better without
treatment within a few days or weeks. External
styes might turn into yellow spots and release pus
after three or four days while internal styes are
more painful and may last slightly longer. You
can help the healing process by applying hot
compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, four times
a day, over several days. The stye either clears
up completely or releases some pus, which
will drain away. However, never 'pop' a stye.
If you have a very painful stye that is not
getting better, a GP might decide to drain
it. Your GP might prescribe antibiotics if you
experience complications such as a 'chalazion'
(a meibomian cyst which can develop if a gland
in your eyelid is blocked) or preseptal cellulitis
(an infection in the tissues around your eye).
YOUR VISION
SHOULDN'T BE
AFFECTED BY STYES

www.athomemagazine.co.uk MARCH 2015 | 133
http://rcophth.ac.uk http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk
At Home with Dr Christian Jessen

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Dr Christian Jessen
