Symptoms
The symptoms of conjunctivitis depend on the cause of the inflammation, but can include:
- Redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid
- Pain in the eyes
- Increased amount of tears
- Thick yellow discharge that crusts and sticks over the eyelashes, especially after sleep
- Green or white discharge from the eye
- Itchy eyes
- Burning eyes
- Blurred vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Eyes appear watery every time
- Discomfort in the eye
Causes
Conjunctivitis has a number of different causes including:- Viruses or bacteria – infective conjunctivitis
- Irritants such as shampoos, dirt, smoke and chemicals- irritant conjunctivitis
- Allergies such as dust and pollen, or a special type of allergy that affects some contact lens wearers – allergic conjunctivitis
- Fungi and parasites very rarely
- Chlamydia