Conjunctivitis, often referred to as pink eye, is a common disease. It’s what occurs when our conjunctiva becomes inflamed, which is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds our eyeball. Both viral and bacterial infections can cause it. It’s the bacterial infection that can do significant damage though. This is referred to as fungal conjunctivitis.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Many things can lead to fungal conjunctivitis. This infection is very contagious. Things such as sharing eye cosmetics or drops increase your risk of contracting it. Those who are immunocompromised are also at higher risk. The same goes for those who come into contact with stagnant water, as it may carry the bacteria.
Symptoms
The earliest symptom is experiencing a gritty feeling in your eyes. This can also include an itching or burning feeling. From there, you may notice some discharge or excessive tearing. Pink in the whites of your eyeball is also common, as is the swelling of eyelids. In some cases, you may also notice an increased sensitivity to light.
In the case of fungal conjunctivitis, pus is the most common symptom. This discharge can also cause the eyelids to become stuck together.
Treatment Options
In most cases, antifungal medications can clear this up easily. Topical antifungal drops can treat superficial infections. Lesions can also occur in our eye area from fungal conjunctivitis. Systemic antifungal medication is used to treat those. Although rare, some fungal lesions may require surgery to correct the damage they caused to the eye socket.
In Conclusion
Conjunctivitis is extremely common and irritating. By identifying fungal conjunctivitis early on, prompt treatment can lessen the impacts of the symptoms.
