What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an eye infection, otherwise known as pink or red eye. It’s commonly caused by a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction, or the eye coming into contact with an irritant. The condition gets its name from the part of the eye – the conjunctiva – that becomes inflamed as a result of the infection. You may not have previously been aware that we can help you treat minor ailments in Exeter; so, let’s take a look at the key symptoms of conjunctivitis to help you spot and treat it, along with other illnesses, quickly and effectively.
What are the main symptoms of conjunctivitis?
If you’re wondering whether that pesky itching or redness in your eye is due to conjunctivitis, there are a few questions you can ask yourself:
– Has your eye recently come into contact with an irritant – this includes things like shampoo and chlorinated water?
– Do you have any known allergies to things like pollen or dust mites, and have you been in contact with any allergens recently?
– Does your eye feel itchy, gritty or watery?
– Are any of your eyelashes covered by a sticky coating?
– Are both eyes affected? Conjunctivitis may initially affect one eye, but usually spreads to both within hours.
– Do you have eye pain, light sensitivity, disturbed vision or intense redness in your eyes? If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a pharmacist or GP as soon as possible.
If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, you could be dealing with conjunctivitis. To help the infection clear up as quickly as possible, be sure to visit your GP or local pharmacy for advice.
What treatment will my pharmacy recommend for conjunctivitis?
Treatment for conjunctivitis depends heavily on the cause, which is why it’s so important to visit your local Exeter pharmacy for advice. Irritant conjunctivitis generally clears up once the offending substance is removed, but allergic conjunctivitis is usually treated with anti-allergy medications like antihistamines, for example. For a more stubborn case of conjunctivitis, antibiotic eye drops may be needed to treat this minor ailment.
What else should I know about conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is very contagious, so during your treatment you should try not to touch your eyes, and make sure you’re washing your hands regularly to prevent the infection from spreading. Until your symptoms have completely cleared up, you should also refrain from sharing towels or pillows with anyone else. You can find out more about our conjunctivitis treatment here:
Can I treat other minor ailments in Exeter at Luxtons Pharmacy?
Aside from conjunctivitis, you can visit your local Exeter pharmacy for free advice to help treat a whole host of minor ailments. For example, at Luxtons Pharmacy, our pharmacists are happy to offer free advice on minor ailments like nappy rash, head lice, cystitis, dandruff, dry eyes, cold sores and more.
If you usually receive free prescriptions, you can also make use of the NHS minor ailments scheme. This scheme allows pharmacists to provide medicine to treat a range of minor ailments free of charge, without you having to visit your GP first.
This winter, it is also especially important that you book your flu vaccinations for the best possible protection. You can find out more here:
As we move into Autumn and Winter, as well as all year round:
Visit us to treat your minor ailments in Exeter!
This blog post was written on behalf of Luxtons Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.