Chronic conjunctivitis: treatment of the disease at home

In the article, we consider the symptoms and treatment of chronic conjunctivitis.

It is a persistent and prolonged catarrh of the conjunctiva of an infectious or non-infectious origin. Chronic disease is subjectively manifested by continuous burning, itching, a feeling of “sand” in the eyes, photophobia, and tiredness of the organs of vision. Objectively, it manifests itself as a small mucopurulent discharge and hyperemia. Diagnosis of chronic pathology is carried out by analyzing complaints and the results of an allergy test. In the treatment of conjunctivitis of this type, the determination of the causes of the inflammatory process, the local use of drugs of symptomatic and etiopathogenetic action (ointments, drops) are of paramount importance.

Essence of the disease

In ophthalmology, conjunctivitis occupies about a third of all eye pathologies, they are the most common inflammatory process of the organs of vision. Unlike acute conjunctivitis, which develops more often in children, chronic conjunctivitis is often affected by elderly and middle-aged people. It can be combined with keratitis, blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, meibomyitis and other inflammations.

Before talking about the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis in adults and children, consider the causes of the disease.

Causes of Chronic Conjunctivitis

By etiology, chronic conjunctivitis can be divided into non-infectious and infectious, exogenous and endogenous.

Exogenous non-infectious chronic conjunctivitis is mainly caused by prolonged eye irritation by chemical or physical factors: fumes of acids and alkalis, smoke, dust, cosmetics, long and hard work of the eyes in poor lighting conditions, etc.

Chronic conjunctivitis is observed in workers who are employed in the paper, wool, sawmill, flour milling, cement, coal industry, in chemical industries and in hot shops. It can also cause chronic conjunctivitis, permanent irritation of a mechanical type with foreign objects (incorrectly growing eyelashes against the background of trichiasis, particles of loose substances, grains of sand, etc.).

Chronic recurrent non-infectious conjunctivitis can appear due to the influence of such reasons: uncorrected pathologies of refraction (presbyopsy, hyperopia, astigmatism), dry eye syndrome, electrophthalmia (snow blindness).

Chronic gastrointestinal ailments (cholecystitis, enterocolitis, gastritis), seborrhea, demodecosis, helminthic invasion, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes mellitus, anemia and hyperglycemia often appear as endogenous factors.

Allergic conjunctivitis is chronic. In this case, ocular manifestations can be combined with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and have seasonal dependence.

Chronic infectious conjunctivitis can be triggered by inflammatory eye diseases (dacryocystitis, meibomeitis, blepharitis), pathologies of the ENT area (chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis). In some situations, the process becomes chronic due to inadequate therapy for acute conjunctivitis. In the cultures and cytograms from the conjunctiva of patients suffering from chronic conjunctivitis, usually pathogenic microorganisms, chlamydia, moraxella, pseudomonas, enterobacteria, staphylococcal flora are detected.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of chronic conjunctivitis gradually increase and persist for a long time. Patients suffer from a feeling of clogging and burning eyes, eyelid severity, lacrimation and photophobia, increased fatigue of the organs of vision when reading and visual work. All these signs of chronic conjunctivitis most often increase by the end of the day and with artificial lighting. The detachable conjunctival cavity, depending on the origin of chronic conjunctivitis, can be mild or scanty, most often has a mucopurulent or mucous character. Objectively unexpressed conjunctival hyperemia, a slight roughness of the mucous surface is manifested. This can be partially seen in the photo.

The treatment of chronic conjunctivitis is discussed below.

The allergic type of disease is characterized by the formation of conjunctiva of follicles or itchy papillae, and in some cases, inflammation of the cornea and visual impairment. Sometimes allergic conjunctivitis is also combined with neuritis, retinitis, uveitis, keratitis, blepharitis and allergic dermatitis.

The chronic form of the disease proceeds stubbornly and for a long time, it can disturb many years.

Therefore, the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis of the eyes should be timely.

Pathology diagnostics

A specific feature of chronic conjunctivitis is the inconsistency of the manifestation of clinical symptoms with objective data, which makes it difficult to determine the cause of the disease. A correct diagnosis can only be made after an in-person ophthalmological examination, analysis of concomitant diseases and complaints, an external examination of the eye, and the implementation of special laboratory and ophthalmological diagnostics.

In chronic conjunctivitis, visometry can determine a decrease in visual acuity or its relative norm. Biomicroscopy allows you to establish changes in the transitional folds of the eyelids and conjunctiva (velvety, loosened surface, slight hyperemia, papillary formation, etc.).

To exclude refraction deviations, do refractometry and skioscopy. If there is a suspicion of the presence of simultaneous dry eye syndrome, tear production tests are done: Schirmer's test, Norn test , installation fluorescein test.

To determine the causative agents of pathology, the implementation of bacteriological culture of a smear taken from the conjunctiva is required.

If the disease is chronic and is caused by concomitant pathologies, additional consultations (allergist, dermatologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, otolaryngologist) and examinations (analysis of eyelashes for demodecosis, skin allergy tests, determination of sugar level, analysis for chlamydia, PCR, RIF, nasal bacose may be necessary X-ray of the sinuses).

Treatment of chronic conjunctivitis

You need to treat the ailment as soon as possible, if you have red eyes for two days, you should consult a specialist. The main therapeutic measures are aimed at combating the cause of the pathology. The course has a restorative character. A fairly common way to treat chronic conjunctivitis is the use of ointments and drops, which are selected by the doctor based on the cause of the disease.

The main drugs for conjunctivitis:

• "Tobrex" is an antibiotic that reduces severe tearing and inflammation. You need to bury two drops in the conjunctiva bag every four hours.
• Sofradex - eliminates irritation of the mucosa. Instill in each eye two drops up to six times a day.
• "Phloxal" - stops further bacterial development, drip one drop four times a day.

What else is used in the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis?

• “Tebrofen” - has an antiviral effect, you need to drip one drop three times a day into the injured eye.
• "Albucid" is a drug that promotes the rapid elimination of redness and has an antimicrobial effect. Its only drawback is a burning sensation after application for a certain time. Drip into each eye two drops six times a day. The treatment course lasts a week. These drops for the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis should be prescribed by a doctor.
• "Gludantan" - has an antiviral effect. In each eye, drip two drops three times a day.

It is important to remember that you can’t self-medicate: all the drugs listed above are prescribed only by a doctor based on the degree and form of the pathology. The ointments prescribed by the doctor should be laid before bedtime, they primarily have a disinfecting effect.

What else involves the treatment of conjunctivitis in a chronic form?

Home Therapy

Pathology can also be treated with folk remedies. Any of them are intended for external use. To achieve a tangible effect, it is allowed to combine several recipes at the same time.

• Drops made from infusion of Kombucha. With the regular nature of inflammation, it is recommended to grow Kombucha. But in order to achieve the most powerful healing properties, he needs to insist on a decoction of chamomile or dog rose. Bury infusion should be twice a day (in the morning and evening). This treatment of chronic conjunctivitis in children and adults lasts 6 weeks.

• Kalanchoe (juice). It has quite effective therapeutic properties. To get the drops, you need to mix the juice with water in a ratio of one to one, then drip three times a day. When burning from such a remedy, it is necessary to replace the instillations with lotions also three times a day.
• Honey drops. Dilute honey with cold boiled water in a proportion of one to one. Bury the finished product before bedtime in the eye. Drops need to be prepared in small quantities, since their maximum shelf life is only three days, they need to be stored only in the refrigerator.
• Onion peel decoction. This tool quite effectively fights against a chronic disease, helps relieve eye inflammation, strengthens the conjunctival vascular system. To cook it, you need to take the husk of three onions, then rinse it and pour a glass of water. Boil for ten minutes, then insist and cool. Make lotions from the broth twice a day, leaving them for fifteen minutes.
• Tea rose infusion. Shredded and dried petals are poured with boiling water: a tablespoon of raw materials for two hundred grams of water. Everything is infused for half an hour and filtered. Ready infusion should be washed five times a day. You can do warm lotions in the evening for at least half an hour.

Treatment of chronic conjunctivitis in adults and children does not always go smoothly, it all depends on the root cause.

Staphylococcal conjunctivitis

The disease is characterized by slow development, periods of improvement and relapses alternate. Patients complain mainly of moderate discharge, high eye fatigue, redness and photophobia. On examination, dried discharge in the form of crusts and conjunctival hyperemia is noted.

Chronic ailment manifests itself most often in adults with dry eye syndrome, impaired immunity, chronic blepharitis, tear duct disease, and untreated acute conjunctivitis. If the disease is chronic, antibacterial agents are prescribed as a primary measure:

• Vitabakt.
• Tobrex.
• Vigamox.
• The Signicef.
• Oftaquix.
• "Zimar."

If blepharoconjunctivitis is diagnosed, then the drugs are complex:

• Toradex.
• "Dex-gentamicin."
• Combinil-Duo.

Additionally, antiallergic medicines are prescribed:

• "Opatanol."
• Ophthalmoferon.

Preparations against inflammation:

• Diclofenaclong.
• Akyular.
• "Diklo-F".

For tear replacement therapy:

• Optiv.
• "Chilo-dresser."

With blepharitis, “Theagel” is prescribed to conduct eyelid hygiene. All of these drugs are used twice a day.

Treatment of chronic staphylococcal conjunctivitis should be under the supervision of a specialist.

Recommendations to patients

For the effectiveness of treatment, the following recommendations of doctors should be observed:

• Wash hands frequently to prevent eye infections. Take care of their proper hygiene.
• Avoid irritating factors whenever possible (cigarette smoke, lack of sleep, poorly selected glasses, bright light, swimming in a pool of chlorinated water, overwork of the eyes).
• You can not scratch your irritated eyes, as this will not bring relief, and exacerbate the existing symptoms.
• Avoid those allergens that led to chronic conjunctivitis.
• During exacerbation of the inflammation process, do not do makeup. Do not use other people's cosmetics or give your own to anyone.
• Do not wear contact lenses during treatment, and immediately after recovery you should buy a new pair.

Collecting herbs for drops

If the ailment is in a neglected state, the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis of the eyes in adults and children is carried out with the following herbal collection: 20 grams of marshmallow root, snapdragon, cornflower flowers, black nightshade leaves are taken. These ingredients should be mixed, brewed with boiling water (per 100 milliliters of water, a tablespoon of collection). Wait until the product cools down, then strain it well through several times rolled up cheesecloth or through nylon cloth. The infusion is ready to drip in each eye, three drops in the morning and evening.

Reviews

Patients in reviews of the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis say that they were forced to spend a lot of time, money and energy on getting rid of the disease. And only if all the doctor’s recommendations were followed, it was possible to succeed. Persistence and consistency in therapy will help to do the trick - the condition will be greatly alleviated, discomfort will decrease. It is not always a question of full restoration of health. According to reviews, the treatment of chronic conjunctivitis in adults and children is a long process.

Prediction and prevention of pathology

Chronic conjunctivitis is difficult to treat, often relapses of the inflammatory process appear. Successful therapy is possible only with the complete elimination of causes and systematic treatment. The prolonged (for many months or even years) course of chronic conjunctivitis can limit the ability to work and professional suitability of people.

Prevention requires the use of personal protective equipment at work, timely correction of refractive deviations of vision, as well as the treatment of concomitant pathologies.

We examined the symptoms and treatment of chronic conjunctivitis in adults and children.