Infective conjunctivitis has the extra symptom which is a yellowish coloured discharge from the eye, this usually encrusts the eye making it difficult to open the eyes in the morning after sleep. Allergic conjunctivitis is caused when the sufferer of an allergy comes into contact with the cause of their allergy. For example, hay fever sufferers and pollen. If pollen gets in their eyes it may cause an allergic reaction and this will show as conjunctivitis. For treatment of allergic conjunctivis see the hayfever page.
Infective conjunctivitis is an infection of the eye by either a virus or more commonly a bacteria.
The treatment of this condition involves the use of antibacterial preparations for use in the eye. These preparations will kill the bacteria, the cause of the condition, allowing the eyes to recover. The preparations are available from the Pharmacy as drops or ointments and they are equally effective. The drops usually require four times daily admisistration whereas the ointment is usually applied twice daily. This is because the ointment, being of a thicker consistency, stays in the eye for longer.