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infectious conjunctivitis include viral and bacterial while noninfectious conjunctivitis

are allergic,mechanical/toxic/irritative,immune mediated, and neoplastic.

Ophthalmia neonatorum [neonatal conjunctivitis]is often defined separately as it is
caused by different group of organisms. It is important to understand that all red
eyes are not necessarily due to conjunctivits and hence the role of an
ophthalmologist is to differentiate from other important serious conditions like
1. Scleritis
2. Angle closure glaucoma
3. Keratitis
4. Acute anterior iritis

5. Masquerade syndromes like ocular squamous surface neoplasia, ocular
cicatricial pemphigoid.

III. PREVENTION AND COUNSELING

The ophthalmologist plays a critical role in breaking the chain of transmission of

epidemic conjunctivitis, primarily by educating the patient and family about proper
hygiene. Infected individuals should be counseled to wash hands frequently along
with washing their eyes and use separate towels, and to avoid close contact with
other family members during the period of contagion. Health care facilities have
occasionally been associated with epidemic outbreaks of adenoviral
keratoconjunctivitis. Paradoxically, eye hospitals may be a source of the disease
transmission and hence steps have to be taken to prevent such instances from
happening. Hand-washing procedures with antimicrobial soap and water and

disinfecting ophthalmic equipments in between every procedure may reduce the risk
of transmission of viral infection. Exposed surfaces on equipment like the
applanation tonometers can be decontaminated by wiping with sodium hypochlorite
(a 1:10 dilution of household bleach] or with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Prevention of
allergic conjunctivitis is possible by changing the environment of the patient or by
avoiding exposure to allergen causing the allergy e.g., pollen, animal fur. Ophthalmia
neonatorum can be prevented by prenatal screening and treatment of the expectant
mother suffering from sexually transmitted diseases and prophylactic treatment of
the infant at birth by using 0.5% erythromycin or 1% tetracycline ointment .

IV. OPTIMAL DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA, INVESTIGATIONS,

TREATMENT & REFERRAL CRITERIA

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