Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Conjunctivitis
Question: Hello.
This is what i have been given for my eye allergies.
Which is causing me to have a goopy, stringy discharge.
However, i dont think i have allergic conjunctivitis. I beleive it may be bacterial.. As 24/7 i am battling the "strings" in my eyes. I do realize its bad to fish them our but its the only thing that is helping me stop the scratching.
Me: 24 male, known allergens to cats.
Symtoms: watery eyes, white stringy & glob of goop discharge almost 24/7, scratchy eyes, redness.
The infection is in both eyes however its much worse in one eye than the other. No eye pain or loss of vision.
History: 4 years ago living on XXXXXXX island, this issue happened every summer.
I moved to XXXXXXX XXXXXXX for 4 years, no issues year round. Just moved back to XXXXXXX island, and this is happening again.
I hope someone can get me the information i need and possibly tell me what i should be trying to fix or calm this seasonal issue.
Thank you very much.. This is casing my summer to be absolute hell.
This is what i have been given for my eye allergies.
Which is causing me to have a goopy, stringy discharge.
However, i dont think i have allergic conjunctivitis. I beleive it may be bacterial.. As 24/7 i am battling the "strings" in my eyes. I do realize its bad to fish them our but its the only thing that is helping me stop the scratching.
Me: 24 male, known allergens to cats.
Symtoms: watery eyes, white stringy & glob of goop discharge almost 24/7, scratchy eyes, redness.
The infection is in both eyes however its much worse in one eye than the other. No eye pain or loss of vision.
History: 4 years ago living on XXXXXXX island, this issue happened every summer.
I moved to XXXXXXX XXXXXXX for 4 years, no issues year round. Just moved back to XXXXXXX island, and this is happening again.
I hope someone can get me the information i need and possibly tell me what i should be trying to fix or calm this seasonal issue.
Thank you very much.. This is casing my summer to be absolute hell.
Brief Answer:
About conjunctivitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If the problem is in one eye more than the other, and there is a lot of goopy discharge rather than just watery itchiness, it is possible you have an infection (conjunctivitis). It's also possible that you are reacting to something in the Olopatadine (antihistamine + mast cell stabilizer). It is possible for this to happen.
If the Olopatadine drops are not helping, and if in fact, it is making the seasonal problem worse, discontinue it.
Instead, rinse your eyes with isotonic buffered saline (you can get eye rinse solution from the drug store) when you come in after being outside, or a couple of times a day, to reduce allergens on the conjunctiva.
But about the possible bacterial conjunctivitis, consider trying this: a few times a day, stand over the sink with a wash cloth and keep rewetting it with water that is quite warm but not so hot that it burns your skin. And apply this to your closed eye lids. The heat can help with an early bacterial conjunctivitis. Bacteria that like to live on the conjunctiva like the cooler temperature of the eye, and also the heat increases circulation that helps clean up infection.
If this is not helping after a day (i.e. you see no improvement), then go to your dr. for antibiotic drops.
Don't pull goop from your eyes as this will increase the chance of a bacterial conjunctivitis if you don't already have one. Instead, use the saline rinse, and the warm wet compresses to help clean things out.
If none of this helps, then it is time to see an ophthalmologist, if you haven't already, who might suggest a steroid eye drop to try to get this under control.
I hope this information helps.
About conjunctivitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If the problem is in one eye more than the other, and there is a lot of goopy discharge rather than just watery itchiness, it is possible you have an infection (conjunctivitis). It's also possible that you are reacting to something in the Olopatadine (antihistamine + mast cell stabilizer). It is possible for this to happen.
If the Olopatadine drops are not helping, and if in fact, it is making the seasonal problem worse, discontinue it.
Instead, rinse your eyes with isotonic buffered saline (you can get eye rinse solution from the drug store) when you come in after being outside, or a couple of times a day, to reduce allergens on the conjunctiva.
But about the possible bacterial conjunctivitis, consider trying this: a few times a day, stand over the sink with a wash cloth and keep rewetting it with water that is quite warm but not so hot that it burns your skin. And apply this to your closed eye lids. The heat can help with an early bacterial conjunctivitis. Bacteria that like to live on the conjunctiva like the cooler temperature of the eye, and also the heat increases circulation that helps clean up infection.
If this is not helping after a day (i.e. you see no improvement), then go to your dr. for antibiotic drops.
Don't pull goop from your eyes as this will increase the chance of a bacterial conjunctivitis if you don't already have one. Instead, use the saline rinse, and the warm wet compresses to help clean things out.
If none of this helps, then it is time to see an ophthalmologist, if you haven't already, who might suggest a steroid eye drop to try to get this under control.
I hope this information helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
