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Diseases » Conjunctivitis » Causes

Causes of Conjunctivitis



Contents

List of causes of Conjunctivitis

Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Conjunctivitis) that could possibly cause Conjunctivitis includes:

More causes: see full list of causes for Conjunctivitis

Causes of Conjunctivitis (Diseases Database):

The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Conjunctivitis that are listed by the Diseases Database:

Source: Diseases Database

Causes of Conjunctivitis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The most common causative organisms include:

❑ bacterial — Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis

❑ chlamydial — Chlamydia trachomatis (inclusion conjunctivitis)

❑ viral — adenovirus types 3, 7, and 8; herpes simplex virus, type 1.

Other causes include allergic reactions to pollen, grass, topical medications, air pollutants, smoke, or unknown seasonal allergens (vernal conjunctivitis); environmental (wind, dust, and smoke) and occupational irritants (acids and alkalies); and a hypersensitivity to contact lenses or solutions.

Vernal conjunctivitis (so-called because symptoms tend to be worse in the spring) is a severe form of immunoglobulin E-mediated mast cell hypersensitivity reaction. This form of conjunctivitis is bilateral. It usually begins at age 3 to 5 years and persists for about 10 years. It’s sometimes associated with other signs of allergy commonly related to pollens, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is an acute, highly contagious viral conjunctivitis caused by adenovirus types 8 and 19. It’s commonly complicated by visual loss due to corneal subepithelial infiltrates. Health care providers must be careful to wash their hands and sterilize equipment to prevent the spread of this disease.

In the Western hemisphere, conjunctivitis is probably the most common eye disorder.

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Inclusion conjunctivitis: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

C. trachomatis is an obligate intracellular organism of the lymphogranuloma venereum serotype group. Serotypes D through K are sexually transmitted, and secondary eye involvement in adults occurs in about 1 in 300 genital cases. Because contaminated cervical secretions infect the eyes of the neonate during birth, inclusion conjunctivitis is an important cause of ophthalmia neonatorum. Ocular chlamydial disease occurs most frequently in adults between ages 18 and 30.

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Conjunctival injection: Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

Blepharitis

This disorder produces diffuse conjunctival injection. Ulcerations appear on the eyelids, which burn, itch, and have no lashes.

Chemical burns

Diffuse conjunctival injection occurs in this ocular emergency, but severe pain is the main symptom. The patient also displays photophobia, blepharospasm, and decreased visual acuity in the affected eye; the cornea may appear gray, and the pupil may be unilaterally smaller.

Conjunctival foreign bodies and abrasions

These conditions feature localized conjunctival injection with sudden, severe eye pain. The patient may have increased tearing and photophobia, but his visual acuity usually isn’t impaired.

Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis produces milky, diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection. Related findings include a watery, stringy eye discharge; increased tearing; itching; palpebral conjunctival follicles; and (with hay fever) conjunctival edema, photophobia, and a feeling of fullness around the eyes.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection along with a thick, purulent eye discharge that contains mucous threads. The patient’s lids and lashes stick together, and he has excessive tearing, photophobia, burning, and itching. He may have pain and a foreign body sensation if the cornea is involved.

Besides diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection, the patient with fungal conjunctivitis complains of photophobia and increased tearing, itching, and burning. The discharge is thick and purulent, making his eyelids crusted, sticky, and swollen. Corneal involvement causes pain.

In viral conjunctivitis, the conjunctival injection is bright red, diffuse, and peripheral. The patient may also have conjunctival edema, follicles on the palpebral conjunctiva, and lid edema; a local viral rash; and signs of upper respiratory tract infection. He complains of itching, increased tearing and, possibly, a foreign body sensation.

Corneal abrasion

Diffuse conjunctival injection is extremely painful in this disorder, especially when the eyelids move over the abrasion. The patient may also report photophobia, excessive tearing, blurred vision, and a foreign body sensation.

Corneal erosion

Recurrent corneal erosion produces diffuse conjunctival injection; severe, continuous pain from rubbing of the eyelid over the eroded area of the cornea; and photophobia.

Corneal ulcer

Bacterial, viral, and fungal corneal ulcers produce diffuse conjunctival injection that increases in the circumcorneal area. Accompanying findings include severe photophobia, severe pain in and around the eye, markedly decreased visual acuity, and a copious amount of purulent eye discharge and crusting. If the patient develops associated iritis, a physical examination will also reveal corneal opacities and an abnormal pupillary response to light.

Dacryoadenitis

This disorder produces diffuse conjunctival injection, pain over the temporal part of the eye, considerable lid swelling and, possibly, a purulent eye discharge.

Episcleritis

Conjunctival injection is localized and raised and may be violet or purplish pink in patients with episcleritis. Associated signs and symptoms include an inflamed sclera, deep pain, photophobia, increased tearing, and conjunctival edema.

Glaucoma

In acute angle-closure glaucoma, conjunctival injection is typically circumcorneal. Other signs and symptoms include severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, severely elevated IOP, blurred vision, and the perception of rainbow-colored halos around lights. Corneas appear steamy because of corneal edema. The pupil of the affected eye is moderately dilated and completely unresponsive to light.

Hyphema

Depending on the type and extent of traumatic injury, a hyphema may produce diffuse conjunctival injection, possibly with lid and orbital edema. The patient may complain of pain in and around the eye. The extent of visual impairment depends on the hyphema’s size and location.

Iritis

In acute iritis, marked conjunctival injection is found mainly around the cornea. Other findings include moderate to severe pain, photophobia, blurred vision, constricted pupils, and poor pupillary response to light.

Kawasaki syndrome

Conjunctival injection is a characteristic sign of Kawasaki syndrome and usually occurs bilaterally. This febrile illness, which primarily affects children under age 5, also causes erythema, lymphadenopathy, and swelling in the peripheral extremities. Treatment with I.V. gamma globulin is extremely effective if given immediately, so early detection is essential. Delaying treatment may cause coronary artery dilation and aneurysm, resulting in ischemic heart disease and, possibly, sudden death.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

This disorder produces severe diffuse conjunctival injection. The patient reports generalized eye pain along with burning, itching, a foreign body sensation, excessive mucus secretion from the eye, absence of tears, and photophobia.

Lyme disease

Spread by tick bites, Lyme disease may cause conjunctival injection, diffuse urticaria, malaise, fatigue, headache, fever, chills, aches, and lymphadenopathy.

Ocular lacerations and intraocular foreign bodies

Diffuse conjunctival injection may be increased in the area of injury. The patient experiences impaired visual acuity and moderate to severe pain that varies with the type and extent of injury. He may also develop lid edema, photophobia, excessive tearing, and an abnormal pupillary response to light.

Ocular tumors

A tumor located in the orbit behind the globe may produce conjunctival injection together with exophthalmos. Conjunctival edema, ocular deviation, and diplopia usually occur if muscles are involved.

Refractive error

An uncorrected or poorly corrected refractive error can produce conjunctival injection. The patient may complain of headache, eye pain, and eye fatigue.

Scleritis

In this relatively rare disorder, conjunctival injection can be diffuse or localized over the area of the scleritis nodule. The patient has severe pain on moving the eye, photophobia, tenderness, and tearing.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome

This disorder produces diffuse conjunctival injection, a purulent eye discharge, severe eye pain, photophobia, decreased tearing, entropion, and trichiasis.

Trachoma

Conjunctival injection is an early sign of trachoma, a leading cause of blindness in Third World countries and among Native Americans in the southwestern United States. Caused by a bacterial infection, trachoma may also produce eyelid swelling and corneal cloudiness.

Uveitis

Diffuse conjunctival injection, which may be increased in the circumcorneal area, characterizes this disorder. Accompanying signs and symptoms include constricted, irregularly shaped pupils; blurred vision; tenderness; photophobia; and possibly sudden, severe ocular pain.

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Eye pain [Ophthalmalgia]: Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Blurred vision and sudden excruciating pain in and around the eye characterize this disorder; the pain may be so severe that it causes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Other findings are halo vision, rapidly decreasing visual acuity, and a fixed, nonreactive, moderately dilated pupil.

Astigmatism

Uncorrected astigmatism commonly causes headaches and eye fatigue, aching, and redness. This disorder occurs in both older and younger people.

Blepharitis

Burning pain in both eyelids is accompanied by conjunctival injection and an itching, sticky discharge. Related findings include a foreign-body sensation, eyelid ulcerations, and loss of eyelashes.

Burns

In chemical burns, sudden severe eye pain may occur with erythema and blistering of the face and eyelids, photophobia, miosis, conjunctival injection, blurring, and inability to keep the eyelids open. In ultraviolet radiation burns, moderate to severe pain occurs about 12 hours after exposure along with photophobia and vision changes.

Chalazion

A chalazion causes localized tenderness and swelling on the upper or lower eyelid. Eversion of the lid reveals conjunctival injection and a small red lump.

Conjunctivitis

Some degree of eye pain and excessive tearing occur in four types of conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis causes mild, burning, bilateral pain accompanied by itching, conjunctival injection, and a characteristic ropey discharge.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes pain only when it affects the cornea. Otherwise, it typically produces burning, a foreign-body sensation, a purulent discharge, and conjunctival injection.

If the cornea is affected, fungal conjunctivitis may cause pain and photophobia. Without corneal involvement, it produces itching, burning eyes; a thick, purulent discharge; and conjunctival injection.

Viral conjunctivitis produces itching, red eyes; a foreign-body sensation; visible conjunctival follicles; and eyelid edema.

Corneal abrasions

This type of injury typically produces a foreign-body sensation, excessive tearing, photophobia, and conjunctival injection.

Corneal erosion (recurrent)

In this disorder, severe pain occurs on waking and continues throughout the day. Accompanying the pain are conjunctival injection and photophobia.

Corneal ulcers

Both bacterial and fungal corneal ulcers cause severe eye pain. They may also cause a purulent eye discharge, sticky eyelids, photophobia, and impaired visual acuity. In addition, bacterial corneal ulcers produce a grayish white, irregularly shaped ulcer on the cornea; unilateral pupil constriction; and conjunctival injection. Fungal corneal ulcers produce conjunctival injection, eyelid edema and erythema, and a dense, cloudy, central ulcer surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Dacryoadenitis

Temporal pain may affect both eyes in this disorder. Associated findings include exophthalmos, conjunctival injection, severe eyelid erythema and edema, and a purulent eye discharge.

Dacryocystitis

Pain and tenderness near the tear sac characterize acute dacryocystitis. Additional signs include excessive tearing, a purulent discharge, eyelid erythema, and swelling around the lacrimal punctum.

Episcleritis

Deep eye pain occurs as tissues over the sclera become inflamed. Related effects include photophobia, excessive tearing, conjunctival edema, and a red or purplish sclera.

Erythema multiforme major

This disorder commonly produces severe eye pain, entropion, trichiasis, purulent conjunctivitis, photophobia, and decreased tear formation.

Foreign bodies in the cornea and conjunctiva

Sudden severe pain is common in this condition, but vision usually remains intact. Other findings include excessive tearing, photophobia, miosis, a foreign-body sensation, a dark speck on the cornea, and dramatic conjunctival injection.

Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma may cause mild aching in the eyes as well as loss of peripheral vision, halo vision, and reduced visual acuity that isn’t corrected by glasses. Acute angle-closure glaucoma may cause severe pain and pressure over the eye, blurred vision, halo vision, decreased visual acuity, and nausea and vomiting.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus

Eye pain occurs with severe unilateral facial pain, usually several days before vesicles erupt. Other signs include red, swollen eyelids; excessive tearing; a serous eye discharge; conjunctival injection; and a white, cloudy cornea.

Hordeolum (stye)

This lesion usually produces localized eye pain that increases as the stye grows. Eyelid erythema and edema are also common.

Hyphema

Occurring after eye injury or surgery, hyphema accompanies sudden pain in and around the eye. Orbital and eyelid edema, conjunctival injection, and visual impairment may also occur.

Interstitial keratitis

Associated with congenital syphilis, this corneal inflammation produces eye pain with photophobia, blurred vision, prominent conjunctival injection, and grayish pink corneas.

Iritis (acute)

Moderate to severe eye pain occurs with severe photophobia, dramatic conjunctival injection, and blurred vision. The constricted pupil may respond poorly to light.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

This condition—known as dry eye syndrome—causes chronic burning pain in both eyes, itching, a foreign-body sensation, photophobia, dramatic conjunctival injection, and difficulty moving the eyelids. A copious mucoid discharge and inadequate tearing are typical.

Lacrimal gland tumor

This neoplastic lesion usually produces unilateral eye pain, impaired visual acuity, and some degree of exophthalmos.

Migraine headache

Migraines can produce head pain so severe that the eyes also ache. Nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and light and noise sensitivity may also occur.

Ocular laceration and intraocular foreign bodies

Penetrating eye injuries usually cause mild to severe unilateral eye pain and impaired visual acuity. Eyelid edema, conjunctival injection, and an abnormal pupillary response may also occur.

Optic cellulitis

This disorder causes dull, aching pain in the affected eye, some degree of exophthalmos, eyelid edema and erythema, a purulent discharge, impaired extraocular movement and, occasionally, decreased visual acuity and fever.

Optic neuritis

In this disorder, pain in and around the eye occurs with eye movement. Severe vision loss and tunnel vision develop but improve in 2 to 3 weeks. Pupils respond sluggishly to direct light but normally to consensual light.

Orbital floor fracture

Sometimes called a blowout fracture, this injury causes eye pain, dramatic eyelid edema and, possibly, enophthalmos and diplopia.

Orbital pseudotumor

This disorder causes deep, boring eye pain and diplopia in about 50% of patients. However, prominent exophthalmos and lateral ocular deviation are more characteristic. Eyelid edema and limited extraocular movement may also occur.

Pemphigus

In this disorder, bilateral eye pain and irritation may be accompanied by blurred vision and a thick discharge. Blisters may develop on the conjunctiva alone or may extend to the nasal, oral, and vulvar mucous membranes as well as the skin.

Scleritis

This inflammation produces severe eye pain and tenderness, conjunctival injection, bluish purple sclera and, possibly, photophobia and excessive tearing.

Sclerokeratitis

Inflammation of the sclera and cornea causes pain, burning, irritation, and photophobia.

Subdural hematoma

Following head trauma, a subdural hematoma commonly causes severe eye ache and headache. Related neurologic signs depend on the hematoma’s location and size.

Trachoma

Along with pain in the affected eye, trachoma causes excessive tearing, photophobia, an eye discharge, eyelid edema and erythema, and visible conjunctival follicles.

Uveitis

Anterior uveitis causes sudden severe pain, dramatic conjunctival injection, photophobia, and a small, nonreactive pupil.

Posterior uveitis causes insidious onset of similar features, plus gradual blurring of vision and distorted pupil shape.

Lens-induced uveitis causes moderate eye pain, conjunctival injection, pupil constriction, and severely impaired visual acuity. In fact, the patient usually can perceive only light.

Other causes

Treatments

Contact lenses may cause eye pain and a foreign-body sensation. Ocular surgery may also produce eye pain, ranging from a mild ache to a severe pounding or stabbing sensation.

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Eye Pain: Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)

❑ Conjunctivitis

❑ Corneal abrasion

❑ Foreign body

❑ Sinusitis

❑ Migraine

❑ Acute glaucoma

❑ Orbital cellulitis

❑ Zoster prodrome

❑ Orbital fracture

❑ Keratitis

❑ Scleritis

❑ Iritis

❑ Optic neuritis

❑ Temporal arteritis

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Conjunctivitis: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

The most common causative organisms are the following:

❑ bacterial: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis

❑ chlamydial: Chlamydia trachomatis (inclusion conjunctivitis)

❑ viral: adenovirus types 3, 7, and 8; herpes simplex virus type 1.

Other causes include allergic reactions to pollen, grass, topical medications, air pollutants, and smoke; occupational irritants (acids and alkalies); rickettsial diseases (Rocky Mountain spotted fever); parasitic diseases caused by Phthirus pubis and Schistosoma haematobium; and, rarely, fungal infections.

Vernal conjunctivitis (also called seasonal or warm-weather conjunctivitis) results from allergy to an unidentified allergen. This form of conjunctivitis is bilateral; it usually begins before puberty and persists for about 10 years. Sometimes it’s associated with other signs and symptoms of allergy commonly related to grass or pollen sensitivity.

An idiopathic form of conjunctivitis may be associated with certain systemic diseases, such as erythema multiforme, chronic follicular conjunctivitis (orphan’s conjunctivitis), thyroid disease, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Conjunctivitis may be secondary to pneumococcal dacryocystitis or canaliculitis from candidal infection.

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Inclusion conjunctivitis: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

C. trachomatis is an obligate intracellular organism. It usually infects the urethra in males and the cervix in females and is transmitted during sexual activity.

Because contaminated cervical secretions infect the eyes of the neonate during birth, inclusion conjunctivitis is an important cause of ophthalmia neonatorum. Rarely, inclusion conjunctivitis results from autoinfection, by hand-to-eye transfer of the organism from the genitourinary tract.

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Eye pain: Medical causes
(Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series)

See Eye pain: causes and associated findings, page 142.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Blurred vision and sudden, excruciating pain in and around the eye characterize acute angle-closure glaucoma; the pain may be so severe that it causes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Other findings are halo vision, rapidly decreasing visual acuity, and a fixed, nonreactive, moderately dilated pupil.

Astigmatism

Uncorrected astigmatism commonly causes headache and eye fatigue, aching, and redness. This disorder occurs in both older and younger people.

Blepharitis

Burning pain in both eyelids is accompanied by itching, sticky discharge, and conjunctival injection. Related findings include foreign-body sensation, lid ulcerations, and loss of eyelashes.

Burns

With chemical burns, sudden and severe eye pain may occur with erythema and blistering of the face and lids, photophobia, miosis, conjunctival injection, blurring, and inability to keep the eyelids open. (See Eye irrigation for chemical burns, page 143.) With ultraviolet radiation burns, moderate to severe pain occurs about 12 hours after exposure along with photophobia and vision changes.

Chalazion

A chalazion causes localized tenderness and swelling on the upper or lower eyelid. Eversion of the lid reveals conjunctival injection and a small red lump.

Conjunctivitis

Some degree of eye pain and excessive tearing occurs with four types of conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis causes mild, burning, bilateral pain accompanied by itching, conjunctival injection, and a characteristic ropey discharge.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes pain only when it affects the cornea. Otherwise, it produces burning and a foreign-body sensation. A purulent discharge and conjunctival injection are also typical.

If the cornea is affected, fungal conjunctivitis may cause pain and photophobia. Even without corneal involvement, it produces itching, burning eyes; a thick, purulent discharge; and conjunctival injection.

Viral conjunctivitis produces itching, red eyes, foreign-body sensation, visible conjunctival follicles, and eyelid edema.

Corneal abrasions

With corneal abrasions, eye pain is characterized by a foreign-body sensation. Excessive tearing, photophobia, and conjunctival injection are also common.

Corneal erosion (recurrent)

Severe pain occurs on waking and continues throughout the day. Accompanying the pain are conjunctival injection and photophobia.

Corneal ulcers

Both bacterial and fungal corneal ulcers cause severe eye pain. They may also cause a purulent eye discharge, sticky eyelids, photophobia, and impaired visual acuity. In addition, bacterial corneal ulcers produce a grayish white, irregularly shaped ulcer on the cornea, unilateral pupil constriction, and conjunctival injection. Fungal corneal ulcers produce conjunctival injection, eyelid edema and erythema, and a dense, cloudy, central ulcer surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Dacryoadenitis

Temporal pain may affect both eyes in dacryoadenitis. Associated findings include exophthalmos, conjunctival injection, severe eyelid erythema and edema, and a purulent eye discharge.

Dacryocystitis

Pain and tenderness near the tear sac characterize acute dacryocystitis. Additional signs include profuse tearing, a purulent discharge, eyelid erythema, and swelling in the lacrimal punctum area.

Episcleritis

Deep eye pain occurs as tissues over sclera become inflamed. Related effects include photophobia, excessive tearing, conjunctival edema, and a red or purplish sclera.

Erythema multiforme major

Erythema multiforme major commonly produces severe eye pain, entropion, trichiasis, purulent conjunctivitis, photophobia, and decreased tear formation.

Foreign bodies in the cornea and conjunctiva

Sudden severe pain is common but vision usually remains intact. Other findings include excessive tearing, photophobia, miosis, a foreign-body sensation, a dark speck on the cornea, and dramatic conjunctival injection.

Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma may cause mild aching in the eyes as well as loss of peripheral vision, halo vision, and reduced visual acuity that isn’t corrected by glasses. Angle-closure glaucoma may cause pain and pressure over the eye, blurred vision, halo vision, decreased visual acuity, and nausea and vomiting.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus

Eye pain occurs with severe unilateral facial pain, usually several days before vesicles erupt. Other signs include red, swollen eyelids; excessive tearing; a serous eye discharge; conjunctival injection; and a white, cloudy cornea.

Hordeolum (stye)

Hordeolum is a lesion that usually produces localized eye pain that increases as the stye grows. Eyelid erythema and edema are also common.

Hyphema

Occurring after eye injury or surgery, hyphema accompanies sudden pain in and around the eye. Orbital and lid edema, conjunctival injection, and visual impairment may occur.

Interstitial keratitis

Associated with congenital syphilis, interstitial keratitis produces eye pain with photophobia, blurred vision, prominent conjunctival injection, and grayish pink corneas.

Iritis (acute)

Moderate to severe eye pain occurs with severe photophobia, dramatic conjunctival injection, and blurred vision. The constricted pupil may respond poorly to light.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca — known as dry eye syndrome — causes chronic burning pain in both eyes, itching, a foreign-body sensation, photophobia, dramatic conjunctival injection, and difficulty moving the eyelids. Excessive mucoid discharge and inadequate tearing are typical.

Lacrimal gland tumor

Lacrimal gland tumor is a neoplastic lesion that usually produces unilateral eye pain, impaired visual acuity, and some degree of exophthalmos.

Migraine headache

Migraines can produce pain so severe that the eyes also ache. Additionally, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and light and noise sensitivity may occur.

Ocular laceration and intraocular foreign bodies

Penetrating eye injuries usually cause mild to severe unilateral eye pain and impaired visual acuity. Eyelid edema, conjunctival injection, and an abnormal pupillary response may also occur.

Optic cellulitis

Optic cellulitis causes dull, aching pain in the affected eye, some degree of exophthalmos, eyelid edema and erythema, purulent discharge, impaired extraocular movement and, occasionally, decreased visual acuity and fever.

Optic neuritis

With optic neuritis, pain in and around the eye occurs with eye movement. Severe vision loss and tunnel vision develop but improve in 2 to 3 weeks. Pupils respond sluggishly to direct light but normally to consensual light.

Orbital floor fracture

Sometimes called a blowout fracture, orbital floor fracture causes eye pain, dramatic eyelid edema and, possibly, enophthalmos and diplopia.

Orbital pseudotumor

Orbital pseudotumor causes deep, boring eye pain and diplopia in about 50% of all patients. However, prominent exophthalmos and lateral ocular deviation are more characteristic. Eyelid edema and restricted extraocular movement may also occur.

Pemphigus

With pemphigus, bilateral eye pain and irritation may be accompanied by blurred vision and a thick discharge. Blisters may develop on the conjunctiva alone or may extend to the nasal, oral, and vulvar mucous membranes as well as the skin.

Scleritis

Scleritis is a inflammation that produces severe eye pain and tenderness, along with conjunctival injection, bluish purple sclera and, possibly, photophobia, loss of vision, and excessive tearing.

Sclerokeratitis

Inflammation of the sclera and cornea causes pain, burning, irritation, and photophobia.

Subdural hematoma

After head trauma, a subdural hematoma commonly causes severe eye ache and headache. Related neurologic signs depend on the hematoma’s location and size.

Trachoma

Along with pain in the affected eye, trachoma causes excessive tearing, photophobia, eye discharge, eyelid edema and redness, and visible conjunctival follicles.

Uveitis

Anterior uveitis causes sudden onset of severe pain, dramatic conjunctival injection, photophobia, and a small, nonreactive pupil.

Posterior uveitis causes insidious onset of similar features, plus gradual blurring of vision and distorted pupil shape.

Lens-induced uveitis causes moderate eye pain, conjunctival injection, pupil constriction, and severely impaired visual acuity. In fact, the patient usually can perceive only light.

Other causes

Medical treatments

Contact lenses may cause eye pain and a foreign-body sensation. Ocular surgery may also produce eye pain, ranging from a mild ache to a severe pounding or stabbing sensation.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Conjunctival injection: Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

Blepharitis

Blepharitis produces diffuse conjunctival injection. Ulcerations appear on the eyelids, which burn, itch, and have no lashes. The patient may report the sensation of a foreign body in his eye. Constant irritation results in rubbing of the eyes causing reddened rims or continuous blinking.

Chemical burns

With chemical burns (an ocular emergency), diffuse conjunctival injection occurs, but severe pain is the most prominent symptom. The patient also displays photophobia, blepharospasm, and decreased visual acuity in the affected eye; the cornea may appear gray, and the pupil may be unilaterally smaller.

Conjunctival foreign bodies and abrasions

Conjunctival foreign bodies and abrasions feature localized conjunctival injection with sudden, severe eye pain. The patient may have increased tearing and photophobia, but usually his visual acuity isn’t impaired.

Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis produces a milky, diffuse, peripheral conjunctival injection. Related findings include watery, stringy eye discharge; increased tearing; itching; palpebral conjunctival follicles; and (with hay fever) conjunctival edema; photophobia; and a feeling of fullness around the eyes.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection along with a thick, purulent eye discharge that contains mucus threads. The patient’s lids and lashes stick together, and he has excessive tearing, photophobia, burning, and itching. He may have pain and a foreign body sensation if the cornea is involved.

In addition to diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection, the patient with fungal conjunctivitis complains of photophobia and increased tearing, itching, and burning. The discharge is thick and purulent, making his eyelids crusted, sticky, and swollen. Corneal involvement causes pain.

With viral conjunctivitis, the conjunctival injection is brilliant red, diffuse, and peripheral. The patient may also have conjunctival edema, follicles on the palpebral conjunctiva, and lid edema; local viral rash; and signs of upper respiratory tract infection. He complains of itching, increased tearing and, possibly, a foreign body sensation.

Corneal abrasion

With corneal abrasion, diffuse conjunctival injection is extremely painful, especially when the eyelids move over the abrasion. The patient may also report photophobia, excessive tearing, blurred vision, and a foreign body sensation.

Corneal erosion

Recurrent corneal erosion produces diffuse conjunctival injection; severe, continuous pain from rubbing of the eyelid over the eroded area of the cornea; and photophobia. The patient may have reduced vision.

Corneal ulcer

Bacterial, viral, and fungal corneal ulcers produce diffuse conjunctival injection that increases in the circumcorneal area. Accompanying findings include severe photophobia, severe pain in and around the eye, markedly decreased visual acuity, and copious and purulent eye discharge and crusting. If the patient develops associated iritis, a physical examination also reveals corneal opacities and an abnormal pupillary response to light.

Dacryoadenitis

With dacryoadenitis, the patient has large, diffuse conjunctival injection; pain over the temporal part of the eye; considerable lid swelling; and, possibly, purulent eye discharge. The hallmark of this disorder is constant tearing.

Episcleritis

Conjunctival injection is localized and raised and may be violet or purplish pink in patients with episcleritis. The sclera is also inflamed. Associated signs and symptoms include deep pain, photophobia, increased tearing, and conjunctival edema.

Glaucoma

With acute angle-closure glaucoma, conjunctival injection is typically circumcorneal. Signs and symptoms include severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, severely elevated IOP, blurred vision, and the perception of rainbow-colored halos around lights. Corneas appear steamy because of corneal edema. The pupil of the affected eye is moderately dilated and completely unresponsive to light.

Hyphema

Depending on the type and extent of traumatic injury, a hyphema may produce diffuse conjunctival injection, possibly with lid and orbital edema. The patient may complain of pain in and around the eye. The extent of visual impairment depends on the hyphema’s size and location.

Iritis

In acute iritis, marked conjunctival injection is found mainly around the cornea. Other findings include moderate to severe pain, photophobia, blurred vision, constricted pupils, and poor pupillary response to light.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca produces severe diffuse conjunctival injection. The patient reports generalized eye pain along with burning, itching, a foreign body sensation, excessive mucus secretion from the eye, absence of tears, and photophobia.

Lyme disease

Spread by tick bites, Lyme disease causes conjunctival injection. It may occur with diffuse urticaria, malaise, fatigue, headache, fever, chills, aches, and lymphadenopathy. Other ocular symptoms include pain, photophobia, conjunctivitis, and blurry or double vision.

Ocular lacerations and intraocular foreign bodies

In patients with ocular lacerations and intraocular foreign bodies, diffuse conjunctival injection may be increased in the area of injury. The patient also experiences impaired visual acuity and moderate to severe pain that varies with the type and extent of injury. He may also develop lid edema, photophobia, excessive tearing, and abnormal pupillary response.

Ocular tumors

If an ocular tumor is located in the orbit behind the globe, conjunctival injection may occur together with exophthalmos. With muscle involvement, conjunctival edema, ocular deviation, and diplopia usually occur.

Uveitis

Diffuse conjunctival injection, which may be increased in the circumcorneal area, characterizes uveitis. Accompanying signs and symptoms include constricted, irregularly shaped pupils; blurred vision; tenderness; photophobia; and possibly sudden, severe ocular pain.

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Eye pain: Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

Blepharitis

With blepharitis, burning pain in both eyelids is accompanied by itching, sticky discharge, and conjunctival injection. Related findings include foreign-body sensation, lid ulcerations, and loss of eyelashes.

Burns

With chemical burns, sudden and severe eye pain may occur with erythema and blistering of the face and lids, photophobia, miosis, conjunctival injection, blurring, and inability to keep the eyelids open. With ultraviolet radiation burns, moderate to severe pain occurs about 12 hours after exposure along with photophobia and vision changes.

Chalazion

A chalazion causes localized pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling on the upper or lower eyelid. Eversion of the lid reveals conjunctival injection and a small red lump.

Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis causes mild, burning, bilateral pain accompanied by itching, conjunctival injection, and a characteristic ropey discharge.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes pain only when it affects the cornea. Otherwise, it produces burning and a foreign-body sensation. A purulent discharge and conjunctival injection are also typical.

If the cornea is affected, fungal conjunctivitis may cause pain and photophobia. Even without corneal involvement, it produces itching, burning eyes; a thick, purulent discharge; and conjunctival injection.

Viral conjunctivitis produces itching, red eyes, foreign-body sensation, visible conjunctival follicles, and eyelid edema.

Corneal abrasions

With corneal abrasions, eye pain is characterized by a foreign-body sensation. Excessive tearing, photophobia, and conjunctival injection are also common. The patient commonly reports feeling that “something is in” the eye.

Corneal erosion (recurrent)

With recurrent corneal erosion, severe pain occurs on waking and continues throughout the day. Conjunctival injection and photophobia also occur.

Corneal ulcers

Both bacterial and fungal corneal ulcers cause severe eye pain. They may also cause a purulent eye discharge, sticky eyelids, photophobia, and impaired visual acuity. In addition, bacterial corneal ulcers produce a grayish white, irregularly shaped ulcer on the cornea, unilateral pupil constriction, and conjunctival injection. Fungal corneal ulcers produce conjunctival injection, eyelid edema and erythema, and a dense, cloudy, central ulcer surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Dacryocystitis

Pain and tenderness near the tear sac characterize acute dacryocystitis. Additional signs include excessive tearing, a purulent discharge, eyelid erythema, and swelling in the lacrimal punctum area.

Foreign body in the cornea or conjunctiva

Sudden severe pain is common but vision usually remains intact. Other findings include excessive tearing, photophobia, miosis, a foreign-body sensation, a dark speck on the cornea, and dramatic conjunctival injection.

Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma may cause mild aching in the eyes as well as loss of peripheral vision, halo vision, and reduced visual acuity that isn’t corrected by glasses. Angle-closure glaucoma is characterized by blurred vision and sudden, excruciating pain in and around the eye. The pain may be so severe that it causes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Other findings are halo vision, rapidly decreasing visual acuity, and a fixed, nonreactive, moderately dilated pupil.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus

With herpes zoster ophthalmicus, eye pain occurs with severe unilateral facial pain, usually days before vesicles erupt. Other signs include red, swollen eyelids; excessive tearing; a serous eye discharge; conjunctival injection; and a white, cloudy cornea.

Hordeolum

A hordeolum (stye) usually produces localized eye pain, burning, and discomfort that increases as the stye grows. Eyelid erythema and edema are also common.

Hyphema

Occurring after eye injury or surgery, hyphema accompanies sudden pain in and around the eye. Orbital and lid edema, conjunctival injection, and visual impairment may occur. The patient may report nausea.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye syndrome, causes chronic burning pain in both eyes, itching, a foreign-body sensation, photophobia, dramatic conjunctival injection, and difficulty moving the eyelids. Excessive mucoid discharge and inadequate tearing are typical.

Lacrimal gland tumor

Lacrimal gland tumor is a neoplastic lesion that usually produces unilateral eye pain, impaired visual acuity, and some degree of exophthalmos. The patient may also have ptosis and eye deviation.

Ocular laceration and intraocular foreign bodies

Penetrating eye injuries usually cause mild to severe unilateral eye pain and impaired visual acuity. Eyelid edema, conjunctival injection, and an abnormal pupillary response may also occur.

Optic cellulitis

Optic cellulitis causes dull, aching pain in the affected eye, some degree of exophthalmos, eyelid edema and erythema, purulent discharge, impaired extraocular movement and, occasionally, decreased visual acuity and fever.

Optic neuritis

With optic neuritis, pain in and around the eye occurs with eye movement. Severe vision loss and tunnel vision develop but improve in 2 to 3 weeks. Pupils respond sluggishly to direct light but normally to consensual light.

Orbital floor fracture

Sometimes called a blowout fracture, orbital floor fracture causes eye pain, dramatic eyelid edema and, possibly, enophthalmos and diplopia. The patient may report recent eye trauma and reduced vision. Ecchymosis and ptosis may be visible.

Orbital pseudotumor

An orbital pseudotumor causes deep, boring eye pain and diplopia in about 50% of patients. However, prominent exophthalmos and lateral ocular deviation are more characteristic. Eyelid edema and restricted extraocular movement may also occur.

Uveitis

Anterior uveitis causes sudden onset of severe pain, dramatic conjunctival injection, photophobia, and a small, nonreactive pupil. Posterior uveitis causes insidious onset of similar features, plus gradual blurring of vision and distorted pupil shape. Lens-induced uveitis causes moderate eye pain, conjunctival injection, pupil constriction, and severely impaired visual acuity (the patient usually can perceive only light).

Other causes

Treatments

Contact lenses may cause eye pain and a foreign-body sensation. Ocular surgery may also produce eye pain, ranging from a mild ache to a severe pounding or stabbing sensation.

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Conjunctival injection: Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

Blepharitis.This disorder produces diffuse conjunctival injection. Ulcerations appear on the eyelids, which burn, itch, and have no lashes.

Chemical burns.Diffuse conjunctival injection occurs in this ocular emergency, but severe pain is the main symptom. The patient also displays photophobia, blepharospasm, and decreased visual acuity in the affected eye; the cornea may appear gray, and the pupil may be unilaterally smaller.

Conjunctival foreign bodies and abrasions.These conditions feature localized conjunctival injection with sudden, severe eye pain. The patient may have increased tearing and photophobia, but his visual acuity usually isn't impaired.

Conjunctivitis.Allergic conjunctivitis produces milky, diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection. Related findings include a watery, stringy eye discharge; increased tearing; itching; palpebral conjunctival follicles; and (with hay fever) conjunctival edema, photophobia, and a feeling of fullness around the eyes.

Bacterial conjunctivitis causes diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection along with a thick, purulent eye discharge that contains mucous threads. The patient's lids and lashes stick together, and he has excessive tearing, photophobia, burning, and itching. He may have pain and a foreign body sensation if the cornea is involved.

Besides diffuse peripheral conjunctival injection, the patient with fungal conjunctivitis complains of photophobia and increased tearing, itching, and burning. The discharge is thick and purulent, making his eyelids crusted, sticky, and swollen. Corneal involvement causes pain.

In viral conjunctivitis, the conjunctival injection is bright red, diffuse, and peripheral. The patient may also have conjunctival edema, follicles on the palpebral conjunctiva, and lid edema; a local viral rash; and signs of upper respiratory tract infection. He complains of itching, increased tearing and, possibly, a foreign body sensation.

Corneal abrasion.Diffuse conjunctival injection is extremely painful in this disorder, especially when the eyelids move over the abrasion. The patient may also report photophobia, excessive tearing, blurred vision, and a foreign body sensation.

Corneal erosion.Recurrent corneal erosion produces diffuse conjunctival injection; severe, continuous pain from rubbing of the eyelid over the eroded area of the cornea; and photophobia.

Corneal ulcer.Bacterial, viral, and fungal corneal ulcers produce diffuse conjunctival injection that increases in the circumcorneal area. Accompanying findings include severe photophobia, severe pain in and around the eye, markedly decreased visual acuity, and a copious amount of purulent eye discharge and crusting. If the patient develops associated iritis, a physical examination will also reveal corneal opacities and an abnormal pupillary response to light.

Dacryoadenitis.This disorder produces diffuse conjunctival injection, pain over the temporal part of the eye, considerable lid swelling and, possibly, a purulent eye discharge.

Episcleritis.Conjunctival injection is localized and raised and may be violet or purplish pink in patients with episcleritis. Associated signs and symptoms include an inflamed sclera, deep pain, photophobia, increased tearing, and conjunctival edema.

Glaucoma.In acute angle-closure glaucoma, conjunctival injection is typically circumcorneal. Other signs and symptoms include severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, severely elevated IOP, blurred vision, and the perception of rainbow-colored halos around lights. Corneas appear steamy because of corneal edema. The pupil of the affected eye is moderately dilated and completely unresponsive to light.

Hyphema.Depending on the type and extent of traumatic injury, a hyphema may produce diffuse conjunctival injection, possibly with lid and orbital edema. The patient may complain of pain in and around the eye. The extent of visual impairment depends on the hyphema's size and location.

Iritis.In acute iritis, marked conjunctival injection is found mainly around the cornea. Other findings include moderate to severe pain, photophobia, blurred vision, constricted pupils, and poor pupillary response to light.

Kawasaki syndrome.Conjunctival injection is a characteristic sign of Kawasaki syndrome and usually occurs bilaterally. This febrile illness, which primarily affects children younger than age 5, also causes erythema, lymphadenopathy, and swelling in the peripheral extremities. Treatment with I.V. gamma globulin is extremely effective if given immediately, so early detection is essential. Delaying treatment may cause coronary artery dilation and aneurysm, resulting in ischemic heart disease and, possibly, sudden death.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.This disorder produces severe diffuse conjunctival injection. The patient reports generalized eye pain along with burning, itching, a foreign body sensation, excessive mucus secretion from the eye, absence of tears, and photophobia.

Lyme disease.Spread by tick bites, Lyme disease may cause conjunctival injection, diffuse urticaria, malaise, fatigue, headache, fever, chills, aches, and lymphadenopathy.

Ocular lacerations and intraocular foreign bodies.Diffuse conjunctival injection may be increased in the area of injury. The patient experiences impaired visual acuity and moderate to severe pain that varies with the type and extent of injury. He may also develop lid edema, photophobia, excessive tearing, and an abnormal pupillary response to light.

Ocular tumors.A tumor located in the orbit behind the globe may produce conjunctival injection together with exophthalmos. Conjunctival edema, ocular deviation, and diplopia usually occur if muscles are involved.

Refractive error.An uncorrected or poorly corrected refractive error can produce conjunctival injection. The patient may complain of headache, eye pain, and eye fatigue.

Scleritis.In this relatively rare disorder, conjunctival injection can be diffuse or localized over the area of the scleritis nodule. The patient has severe pain on moving the eye, photophobia, tenderness, and tearing.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome.This disorder produces diffuse conjunctival injection, a purulent eye discharge, severe eye pain, photophobia, decreased tearing, entropion, and trichiasis.

Trachoma.Conjunctival injection is an early sign of trachoma, a leading cause of blindness in Third World countries and among Native Americans in the southwestern United States. Caused by a bacterial infection, trachoma may also produce eyelid swelling and corneal cloudiness.

Uveitis.Diffuse conjunctival injection, which may be increased in the circumcorneal area, characterizes this disorder. Accompanying signs and symptoms include constricted, irregularly shaped pupils; blurred vision; tenderness; photophobia; and possibly sudden, severe ocular pain.

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Eye pain [Ophthalmalgia]: Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

Acute angle-closure glaucoma.Blurred vision and sudden, excruciating pain in and around the eye characterize acute angle-closure glaucoma; the pain may be so severe that it causes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Other findings are halo vision, rapidly decreasing visual acuity, and a fixed, nonreactive, moderately dilated pupil.

Blepharitis.Burning pain in both eyelids is accompanied by itching, sticky discharge, and conjunctival injection. Related findings include a foreign-body sensation, lid ulcerations, and loss of eyelashes.

Burns.With chemical burns, sudden and severe eye pain may occur with erythema and blistering of the face and lids, photophobia, miosis, conjunctival injection, blurring, and an inability to keep the eyelids open. With ultraviolet radiation burns, moderate to severe pain occurs about 12 hours after exposure along with photophobia and vision changes.

Chalazion.A chalazion causes localized tenderness and swelling on the upper or lower eyelid. Eversion of the lid reveals conjunctival injection and a small red lump.

Conjunctivitis.Some degree of eye pain and excessive tearing occurs with four types of conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis causes mild, burning, bilateral pain accompanied by itching, conjunctival injection, and a characteristic ropey discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis causes pain only when it affects the cornea. Otherwise, it produces burning and a foreign-body sensation. A purulent discharge and conjunctival injection are also typical.

If the cornea is affected, fungal conjunctivitis may cause pain and photophobia. Even without corneal involvement, it produces itching, burning eyes; a thick, purulent discharge; and conjunctival injection.

Viral conjunctivitis produces itching, red eyes, a foreign-body sensation, visible conjunctival follicles, and eyelid edema.

Corneal abrasions.With this type of injury, eye pain is characterized by a foreign-body sensation. Excessive tearing, photophobia, and conjunctival injection are also common.

Corneal ulcers.Bacterial and fungal corneal ulcers cause severe eye pain. They may also cause a purulent eye discharge, sticky eyelids, photophobia, and impaired visual acuity. In addition, bacterial corneal ulcers produce a grayish white, irregularly shaped ulcer on the cornea; unilateral pupil constriction; and conjunctival injection. Fungal corneal ulcers produce conjunctival injection, eyelid edema and erythema, and a dense, cloudy, central ulcer surrounded by progressively clearer rings.

Dacryocystitis.Pain and tenderness near the tear sac characterize acute dacryocystitis. Additional signs include excessive tearing, a purulent discharge, eyelid erythema, and swelling in the lacrimal punctum area.

Episcleritis.Deep eye pain occurs as tissues over the sclera become inflamed. Related effects include photophobia, excessive tearing, conjunctival edema, and a red or purplish sclera.

Erythema multiforme major.Erythema multiforme major commonly produces severe eye pain, entropion, trichiasis, purulent conjunctivitis, photophobia, and decreased tear formation.

Foreign bodies in the cornea and conjunctiva.Sudden severe pain is common, but vision usually remains intact. Other findings include excessive tearing, photophobia, miosis, a foreign-body sensation, a dark speck on the cornea, and dramatic conjunctival injection.

Hordeolum (stye).Hordeolum usually produces localized eye pain that increases as the stye grows. Eyelid erythema and edema are also common.

Iritis (acute).Moderate to severe eye pain occurs with severe photophobia, dramatic conjunctival injection, and blurred vision. The constricted pupil may respond poorly to light.

Lacrimal gland tumor.A lacrimal gland tumor is a neoplastic lesion that usually produces unilateral eye pain, impaired visual acuity, and some degree of exophthalmos.

Migraine headache.Migraines can produce pain so severe that the eyes also ache. Additionally, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and light and noise sensitivity may occur.

Ocular laceration and intraocular foreign bodies.Penetrating eye injuries usually cause mild to severe unilateral eye pain and impaired visual acuity. Eyelid edema, conjunctival injection, and an abnormal pupillary response may also occur.

Optic neuritis.With optic neuritis, pain in and around the eye occurs with eye movement. Severe vision loss and tunnel vision develop but improve in 2 to 3 weeks. Pupils respond sluggishly to direct light but normally to consensual light.

Scleritis.Scleritis produces severe eye pain and tenderness, along with conjunctival injection, a bluish purple sclera and, possibly, photophobia and excessive tearing.

Sclerokeratitis.Inflammation of the sclera and cornea causes pain, burning, irritation, and photophobia.

Subdural hematoma.Following head trauma, a subdural hematoma commonly causes severe eye ache and headache. Related neurologic signs depend on the hematoma's location and size.

Trachoma.Along with pain in the affected eye, trachoma causes excessive tearing, photophobia, eye discharge, eyelid edema and redness, and visible conjunctival follicles.

Uveitis.Anterior uveitis causes the sudden onset of severe pain, dramatic conjunctival injection, photophobia, and a small, nonreactive pupil.

Posterior uveitis causes an insidious onset of similar features as well as gradual blurring of vision and distorted pupil shape.

Lens-induced uveitis causes moderate eye pain, conjunctival injection, pupil constriction, and severely impaired visual acuity. In fact, the patient usually can perceive only light.

Other causes

Treatments and surgery.Contact lenses may cause eye pain and a foreign-body sensation. Ocular surgery may also produce eye pain, ranging from a mild ache to a severe pounding or stabbing sensation.

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Conjunctivitis as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Conjunctivitis as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Conjunctivitis. Our database lists the following as having Conjunctivitis as a complication of that condition:

Conjunctivitis as a symptom:

Conditions listing Conjunctivitis as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Conjunctivitis. Our database lists the following as having Conjunctivitis as a symptom of that condition:

Medications or substances causing Conjunctivitis:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Conjunctivitis as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

See full list of 110 medications causing Conjunctivitis


What causes Conjunctivitis?

Causes: Conjunctivitis: Can be viral, bacterial, or a reaction to allergens, eye drops or eye products.

Medical news summaries relating to Conjunctivitis:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Conjunctivitis:

Related information on causes of Conjunctivitis:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Conjunctivitis may be found in:


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