Viral conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye diseases and is found in both adults and children. Pathology refers to highly infectious and can trigger an epidemic. Complex therapy will help to cope with the ailment, which must include antiviral drops for the eyes. Such drugs activate the immune system and contribute to a speedy recovery. An effective course of treatment can only be prescribed by an ophthalmologist. Therefore, if you detect symptoms of inflammation, you should immediately contact a specialist.
What are antiviral eye drops?
For the treatment of various viral eye lesions, drops are prescribed that can eliminate the causative agent of the disease. The main objective of such funds is to stimulate the body's own defenses. Thanks to the increased production of interferon, the virus is defeated. Interferon, in turn, is a protein that is produced by almost all body cells during the invasion of foreign agents.
If treatment is started in a timely manner, within a few days the patient will feel significant relief. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that any medication, including antiviral drops for the eyes, has its contraindications and cannot be used without a preliminary medical examination and medical advice.
Types of antiviral eye drops
In medical practice, all antiviral eye drops are divided into several types, depending on the mechanism of action. Virucidal antiviral agents act directly on a foreign agent and kill (inactivate) it. Such drops are antimetabolites and significantly inhibit the healing process of the cornea affected by the virus.
Drops based on human interferon act more gently. Penetrating into cells damaged by the virus, this protein does not kill the pathogen. It causes cells to resist the attacks of the virus from the first day of the disease. Improve the protective function and immunomodulatory drops. Stimulation of immunity occurs at the local and general level. Depending on the severity of the condition, the specialist will select the optimal drug for the treatment of the virus. Other medicines may also be needed if a bacterial infection is added.
When is it prescribed?
Antiviral drops for the eyes should be prescribed only for inflammation of the viral etiology. The drugs are able to overcome adenovirus - an infection that enters the body mainly through the mucous membranes. In ophthalmology, adenovirus is the main cause of conjunctivitis.
Enterovirus infection can also cause eye inflammation. The most severe form is enteroviral keratoconjunctivitis, in which the cornea is affected. Acute inflammation of the conjunctiva causes enterovirus type 70. Such an ailment in ophthalmology is called hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. A characteristic feature is hemorrhage.
Herpes virus can also cause a pathological condition. Herpetic keratitis is considered the most common form of the disease. They occur most often with primary infection of the herpes virus at an early age in children.
Viral conjunctivitis: causes, symptoms
The first signs of the disease appear on the 5-10th day of infection. Viral conjunctivitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- redness of the eye;
- tearing;
- thread;
- photophobia;
- swelling of the eyelids.
Use antiviral drops for the eyes with conjunctivitis should be from the first day of the detection of the inflammatory process. In the absence of adequate therapy, in most cases a bacterial infection joins, which significantly worsens the patient's condition.
Pathology often occurs against the background of acute respiratory infection, with diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In this case, the doctor may prescribe drops in the nose and eyes. Antiviral nasal agents most often contain interferon - “Nazoferon”, “Genferon”, “Grippferon”. Among immunomodulators, Derinat drops are popular.
Children's antiviral eye drops
For children, the most safe are considered antiviral agents based on human interferon. Interferon inducers will stimulate the body's natural defenses, increasing the production of antibodies to the viral pathogen, while not exerting a negative effect. But only the attending physician can prescribe them.
Viruses infect children more often than adults. The vulnerability of babies is associated with the imperfection of the immune system, which has not yet had time to "get acquainted" with many infections. Viral conjunctivitis is mainly found in children 2-6 years old. At the same time, you may experience symptoms of a cold: runny nose, sore throat, weakness, headache. To remove unpleasant sensations, you can use the following drops:
- Ophthalmoferon.
- "Oftan I go."
- "Midday".
- Gludantan.
- Aktipol.
In the case of the attachment of a bacterial infection, the specialist will prescribe additional drugs that will act directly on foreign agents. Drops are also used for bacterial conjunctivitis. Antiviral and antibacterial drugs should be instilled into the eyes only after reading the instructions.
Antiviral eye drops during pregnancy
A decrease in immunity during pregnancy leads to the vulnerability of the body to viruses. Since the range of permitted drugs for treatment during this period is limited, one should carefully approach the choice of a safe remedy. With conjunctivitis of viral origin, pregnant women can use only drops based on interferon - Ophthalmoferon. This is the safest treatment option for the expectant mother. The only contraindication to use is hypersensitivity to the active substance or auxiliary components.
Ophthalmic diseases pose a risk to the fetus. Therefore, if you detect the first symptoms of malaise, you should seek the help of a specialist. To improve the state of the immune system, it is necessary to consult an immunologist.
Ophthalmoferon drops: description
In ophthalmology, interferon is often used to treat locally diseases caused by the virus. Antiviral eye drops “Ophthalmoferon” act in several directions at once:
- Improve the protective functions of the body at the local level.
- Relieve inflammation.
- Prevent the spread of the virus.
- Start the process of restoring the cornea of the eye.
- They play the role of anesthetic.
In 1 ml of the drug contains about 10 thousand recombinant human interferon. The second active ingredient is diphenhydramine, which relieves inflammation and relieves allergic reactions. Boric acid is included in the composition for disinfection. It is thanks to this component that the drug can produce a weak antibacterial effect.
Ophthalmoferon eye drops passed the necessary clinical trials, during which a high degree of effectiveness of the drug with respect to viral pathologies was proved. Patients claim that the drug is well tolerated and practically does not cause side effects.
Indications
Ophthalmoferon antiviral drops for the eyes can be prescribed for the treatment of herpetic, adenovirus and hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Keratitis, optic neuritis, hay fever (inflammation of the eyes of an allergic nature), iridocyclitis also lend themselves well to such therapy. Drops are used in the recovery process after surgery to prevent the development of infection.
Antiviral drops “Ophthalmoferon” moisturize the mucous membrane of the eye, eliminating discomfort and inflammation. If the drug does not cope with a strong inflammatory process, the doctor may additionally prescribe hormonal drugs to relieve the symptoms of the disease.
Antiviral eye drops "Aktipol"
An ophthalmic agent contains an active ingredient such as aminobenzoic acid. The substance stimulates the production of human interferon at the local level, improving its own protective function. Aktipol Russian antiviral eye drops can be used to treat adenoviral keratouveitis and conjunctivitis, thermal burns of the cornea, and dystrophic lesions of the eye retina. The tool also copes with chronic eye fatigue, moisturizes and relieves inflammation of the mucous membrane.
The dosage of the drug depends on the severity of the patient's condition. According to the instructions, drops should be used up to 8 times a day in acute course of the disease. Active ingredients usually do not cause side effects and are well tolerated. However, during pregnancy and while breast-feeding a baby, it is better to refrain from using this medicine on your own and get medical advice first.
Oftan Idu
Another medicine from Finland is Oftan Idu. These are powerful antiviral eye drops. The drug has a pronounced virucidal effect and has a detrimental effect on the virus. The main active substance - idoxuridine - is able to change the structure of the DNA of the pathogen, which will inevitably lead to its death.
In the acute phase, antiviral drops for the eyes should be applied every 2 hours. In the future, the time interval can be increased. Unlike agents based on interferon, this drug can cause a number of side effects in the form of increased tearing, itching, redness, clouding of the cornea. To avoid negative consequences, you should first contact a specialist who will select the necessary antiviral drops for the eyes.
The price of such drugs ranges from 200 rubles. (drops "Aktipol") to 370 rubles. ("Ophthalmoferon"). Drops based on human interferon can be prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment for acute respiratory viral infections, as well as for the prevention of colds.