The truth behind the old myths about red eyes
HAVE you ever heard someone telling you that you should avoid eye contact with people with red eyes? Does it really spread just by looking? What actually is red eye? How does it really spread? What can be the consequences and how can we avoid it? Dr Amarjeet Kaur, Consultant Ophthalmologist, shares her insights over the years about “red eyes”.
Conjunctivitis (aka Red Eye or Pink Eye) is a common eye problem – even in newborns, whereby the white part of the eye (conjunctiva) looks as if a lot of blood vessels suddenly appeared. It is an infection which results in inflammation of the conjunctiva, and is commonly caused by allergies towards pollen, contact lens and chemicals, or an infection with a virus or bacteria. Though rare and not sight-threatening, complications can cause scarring to the eye or even secondary infection to the body, but if properly managed, risks can reduce to almost zero.
“As common as it is, one still needs to be alert on when to see a doctor: when there is soreness or pain in the eye, an increased sensitivity to light, disturbed vision, intense redness in one or both eyes,” Dr Amarjeet reminded. “It usually resolves within 7 to 10 days. However, many people are very worried when it happens and this is usually due to what they heard of, aka Myths,” she adds.
Many believe that conjunctivitis is often spread by eye contact or merely through looking at people with infected eyes. That’s not true. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious and can spread from person to person via direct contact; conjunctivitis caused by allergens on the other hand, may not be infectious and may only cause irritation or redness to the infected person’s eyes. This also explains that not all conjunctivitis are contagious.
A common myth is that you won’t get conjunctivitis if you don’t rub your eyes. Not rubbing the eyes can minimise the risk of viral and bacterial conjunctivitis that may be caused by touching the eyes with unclean hands. There are also other types of conjunctivitis that is caused by allergens which does not directly relate to rubbing the eyes. “However, vigorous eye rubbing can also cause corneal abrasions and subconjunctival haemorrhage,” explained Dr Amarjeet.
Another myth that is more scary is that conjunctivitis can cause blindness. In fact, conjunctivitis on its own is not a dangerous condition and will resolve with proper treatment and care. Although it is not as serious as it seems, do not self-medicate and be wary of steroid eye drops. If the red eye does not improve within 24 to 48 hours, medical advice is needed.
“Redness of the eye can sometimes signal a more serious eye disease, such as uveitis or glaucoma,” Dr Amarjeet further elaborates. “It is important to consult an ophthalmologist to determine the cause and receive the most effective treatment options,” she stresses.
Besides the medicated eye drops prescribed by the doctor, personal hygiene is equally important, it is essentially important to practice regular hand wash with soap and scrub thoroughly with warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially each time after instillation of eye drops and after cleaning the eyes. Staying away from school or work can avoid the spread of infection, however the patient can usually be able to go back to school or work after starting the antibiotic and practice proper personal hygiene. “Last but not least, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of fluid, and eat a healthy diet that will keep your eyes healthy and resistant to infection,” Dr Amarjeet advised.
Dr Amarjeet Kaur is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in VISTA Eye Specialist. Find out more about VISTA Eye Specialist at vista.my or call 1800-88-3937.
Source: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/eyes/conjunctivitis
KKLIU No.: 0697/2020, valid till: 31 Dec 2022