Do not self-medicate or use herbal steam treatments for conjunctivitis.

According to Dr. Phung Thi Thuy Hang, Deputy Head of the Ophthalmology Department at Bach Mai Hospital ( Hanoi ), acute conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye), although relatively benign and rarely leaving sequelae, is highly contagious in crowded places such as schools, hospitals, offices, swimming pools, etc., and can develop into large outbreaks.

After an incubation period of 2-3 days (from the time of exposure to the source of infection), symptoms such as itchy eyes, redness, sensitivity to light, tearing, and excessive discharge will appear. Upon waking in the morning, patients experience excessive discharge, causing the eyelids to stick together, making it difficult to open the eyes. The discharge also makes vision difficult and obstructed, but visual acuity is usually not reduced. Initially, only one eye is affected, but after a few days, it spreads to the other eye. Subsequent symptoms include swollen and red eyelids, conjunctival congestion and edema, excessive discharge on the eyelid margins and conjunctival surface, and in some cases, subconjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding).

If the cause of the infection is bacteria (streptococcus, pneumococcus, diphtheria, etc.), the conjunctiva of the eyelid is often covered by a pseudomembrane. Severe cases can cause corneal damage such as superficial punctate keratitis or punctate keratitis, leading to corneal opacity, significant and persistent vision loss lasting for months.

P DISEASE PREVENTION

To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, people with conjunctivitis should stay home from school or work, limit exposure to crowded places to avoid infecting others; use separate items, avoid rubbing their eyes; and wash their hands before and after applying eye drops.

When sharing items, wash your hands with soap beforehand. After recovery, wash your eyeglasses with soap to prevent reinfection. Do not use one bottle of eye drops for multiple people. Do not use homemade saline solution for eye drops as it is not sterile. The salt concentration and pH level are also unsuitable for the eyes. In addition, homemade saline solution often contains impurities harmful to the eyes. Do not discard cotton swabs after use to clean the eyes. Wash face towels frequently with soap and dry them in the sun. Clinics must follow proper hand hygiene and instrument disinfection procedures.

(Source: Department of Ophthalmology, Bach Mai Hospital)

Dr. Phung Thi Thuy Hang noted that if the cause is adenovirus, the patient may experience mild fever, runny nose, swollen lymph nodes in front of the ear or at the angle of the jaw, sore throat, and inflamed tonsils. With allergic conjunctivitis, the patient comes into contact with the allergen, leading to rapid redness and intense itching in both eyes, causing the patient to rub their eyes, resulting in secondary infection.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) has many different causes, so people with conjunctivitis should visit an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Patients should follow the ophthalmologist's instructions for treatment. Do not self-medicate with eye drops to avoid potentially dangerous complications.

Specifically, avoid using herbal remedies for eye compresses or steaming, as this can cause further damage to the eyes, such as burns from heat or essential oils. Some fungi and bacteria in the leaves can penetrate through corneal abrasions, causing a very dangerous condition called corneal ulceration. Treatment becomes extremely difficult and expensive, leaving behind corneal scarring that causes permanent blurred vision; in severe cases, eye removal may be necessary.

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