RED EYES are pretty common
and the variety of things which cause them are just as wide, from
chlorine in pools, smoke in bars, dry weather,
dusty wind and allergies. But here we'll look mainly
at infection as the cause of red eyes.
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"Oh
no, not another sand storm!"
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There are two culprits for infected itchy,
red, hurting, watering eyes - viruses
and bacteria - you can tell them apart because bacteria
make a thick yellow or green goo seen in the corners of your
eyes or sticking your lids closed when you wake in the morning. Viral
type red eyes produce a lot of clear watering and last less
than 10 days. The viral type also tends to produce more pain
and headache. Bacterial types are more common in babies. These
nasty perpetrators reach the eye on dirty fingers or wafts of air
and try to make your eye home. Your body recognizes the freeloaders
and mounts an retaliatory attack. The result of this is the swelling
and pain e.t.c. you feel.
Treatment for viral red eyes is pretty simple with decongestants
and optrex. Bacterial conjunctivitis requires liquid antibiotics
squirted onto the eye surface three to four times a day and wiping
away bacterial goo from the eye-lids with dilute salt water.
Allergic type conjunctivitis - sneezing and runny nose with red eyes
- can be treated with allergy cell stabalizer drops as an adjunct,
and dry eye conjunctivitis - feels gritty - responds well to artificial
tears.
