Can acute conjunctivitis cause facial swelling?

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on October 21, 2024
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Acute conjunctivitis can possibly cause swelling of the eyelids and the face.

Acute conjunctivitis is a common ophthalmic disease, usually caused by neglecting eye hygiene. For example, rubbing your eyes with dirty hands, washing your face with unclean water, and wiping your eyes with contaminated towels, tissues, or wet wipes can transfer viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens from the environment into the eyes, thereby causing infection and conjunctivitis.

Inflammatory stimulation can cause reactive swelling of the skin adjacent to the eye. Conjunctivitis needs timely treatment with anti-infective eye drops to eliminate symptoms. For instance, bacterial infections can be treated with eye drops such as Levofloxacin Hydrochloride and Fusidic Acid, while viral infections can be treated with Ganciclovir and Acyclovir eye drops.

(Please follow medical advice when using medications.)

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Can I drink alcohol with conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common diseases in clinical ophthalmology, often caused by inflammation or viral infections. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs and alternately using ribavirin eye drops and ofloxacin eye drops for treatment yields relatively good results. Avoid staying up late, rubbing eyes with hands, and consuming spicy and other irritating foods. Abstain from smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking and drinking during treatment can exacerbate the condition and lead to recurrent episodes.

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Should people with conjunctivitis avoid certain foods?

Patients with conjunctivitis should avoid spicy foods, such as onions, leeks, garlic, chili peppers, lamb, dog meat, and other heat-inducing comfort foods, which are not conducive to the early recovery of the disease. Additionally, they should consume less shrimp, crab, and other seafood that may exacerbate the condition. Smoking is also prohibited due to the presence of nicotine in cigarettes, which constricts blood vessels and can worsen red eye, thus smoking must be strictly avoided. Furthermore, alcohol consumption should be avoided as it can prolong the disease.

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Ophthalmology
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How should chronic conjunctivitis be treated?

Chronic conjunctivitis is a chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by various reasons, with complex etiology, mainly manifested as mild conjunctival congestion and a small amount of mucous secretion, often affecting both eyes. Chronic conjunctivitis is not self-limiting and can be difficult to treat. Treatment is targeted based on different causative factors, along with the appropriate use of antibiotic eye drops and ointments. In cases of chronic staphylococcal conjunctivitis, erythromycin responds quite well, while a broad-spectrum antibiotic eye drop, aminoglycoside eye drops, or ointments may be chosen for other bacterial causes. For cases where the above medications are ineffective, a conjunctival scraping can be performed for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing, and the medication can be adjusted based on the results.

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Ophthalmology
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Acute conjunctivitis symptoms

Acute conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is highly contagious and frequently occurs during the spring and autumn seasons. The onset of the disease is sudden with an incubation period of one to three days. The disease can affect both eyes either simultaneously or one to two days apart. The inflammation is most severe three to four days after onset and then gradually subsides. The duration of the disease is generally less than three weeks. The main clinical symptoms include a foreign body sensation, burning, itching, photophobia, tearing, and increased discharge.

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Ophthalmology
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Can conjunctivitis heal on its own?

Conjunctivitis can be classified as hyperacute, acute or subacute, and chronic, based on the speed of onset. Based on the severity of the condition, it can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Acute conjunctivitis is usually self-limiting, with a duration of about two weeks. After treatment with sensitive antibiotics, recovery can occur within a few days. Chronic conjunctivitis is not self-limiting and is more challenging to treat.