What’s wrong with my eyes?

Dry eye and conjunctivitis explained
The eyes are one of our most vital sensory organs, and possibly the most overworked organ of our body in the modern world – with changing climatic conditions, excessive screen exposure from digital technology, and irritants from pollution.

Maintaining the basic health of our eyes is critical to protect your precious gift of vision.

Tears – not just for emotions 

Although we usually associate tears with strong emotions – tears of joy, sadness or pain – your tears are also crucial for the health of your eyes. And they don’t just lubricate the surface of the eye, keeping it moist, and wash away microbes, dust and debris.

The cornea doesn’t have a blood supply, so tears also provide critical nourishment for the corneal surface– supplying proteins, electrolytes, and vitamins that are essential to maintain the health of the eye surface and to prevent infection.

Every time you blink, a thin film of tears is swept over the eye surface. To maintain eye comfort and health, the tear film needs to remain intact between blinks.

What is dry eye?
Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce sufficient tears, or when the tears are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly.

Over time, the resulting dryness can cause inflammation and damage the surface of the eye. If left untreated, this condition can lead to pain, ulcers, or scars on the cornea, and some loss of vision. However, permanent loss of vision from dry eye is uncommon.

Symptoms of dry eye may include any of the following:
• stinging or burning of the eye
• a sandy or gritty feeling as if something is in the eye
• watery eyes
• a stringy discharge from the eye
• pain and redness of the eye
• episodes of blurred vision
• tired eyes, heavy eyelids, or eye fatigue
• intolerance of reading, working on the computer, or any activity that requires sustained visual attention.

If you suffer with ongoing symptoms of dry eye, consult an eye care professional to get an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment to avoid permanent damage.

Treating dry eye
Although there is no specific cure for dry eye – the symptoms can be managed as an ongoing condition. Treatments generally aim to increase or replace tear production, maintain tear film volume or prevent excessive tear loss.

For relief of symptoms there are a range of eye drops, gels and ointments to replace tears and lubricate the surface of the eye (often these are called ‘artificial tears’). Ask for advice at your local Direct Chemist Outlet for the best product for your needs.

What is Conjunctivitis?
This highly contagious infection can be treated by your pharmacist!

The conjunctiva is a thin lining that covers your eyeball and the inside of your eyelid. When it gets infected or inflamed, this is called conjunctivitis.

A conjunctival infection is caused by a bacteria or a virus, and may be introduced to the eye by a foreign object or chemical exposure to the eye. It is also fairly common to develop conjunctivitis when you have a cold, especially in children. In contrast, allergic conjunctivitis is not actually an infection, but an inflammatory response triggered by an allergic reaction.

The classic symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis are a red or pink eye, with a green or yellow sticky discharge (pus).

The eyelids are often stuck together upon waking. Sometimes the eye will be sore, watery, or feel gritty. In viral conjunctivitis, the symptoms are similar, although the discharge is usually clear or white. The symptoms of a conjunctival infection usually last from two days to three weeks.

Allergic conjunctivitis is different. Both eyes will feel itchy and watery and there will usually be other allergy symptoms, such as an itchy or runny nose and sneezing.

Treating Conjunctivitis
• Bathe your eyes
• Clean away any discharge with a disposable cotton or gauze swab soaked with saline solution. Premoistened eye cleansing swabs are also available from your pharmacy.
• Wipe your eye once, from the end nearest your nose to the outside, then throw the swab away. Continue until your eye is clean.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Use eye drops or ointments as per instructions from your doctor or pharmacist.

There are a range of treatments available over-the-counter to treat the conjunctivitis, depending on the cause – ask your pharmacist at your local DCO pharmacy if you develop any symptoms.