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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?

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    I have thirty years in private practice as an optometrist at the same location in Leichhardt and have done four postgraduate courses pertaining to Diseases … View Profile

    There are four basic types of conjunctivitis: bacterial, viral, allergic and chronic/irritative.  

    The characteristic symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis are bright redness which increases away from the cornea, and the presence of pus.

    Viral conjunctivitis is characterised by paler redness, burning and tearing; usually in association with a recent history of the common cold or flu.

    Allergic conjunctivitis is characterised by the symptom of itchiness. Redness, tearing, swollen conjunctiva and white, stringy discharge may also be present.

    Chronic/irritative conjunctivitis may involve chronic, lowgrade symptoms of itchiness, burning, grittiness, redness, tearing. It is usually associated with dry eye, eyelid-margin disease or a lowgrade inflammatory reaction to certain bacteria on the ocular surface.        

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