CONJUNCTIVITIS
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye,” is an infection or swelling in your conjunctiva, which is a thin, transparent membrane that lies over the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of your eye.
When you have pink eye, blood vessels in your conjunctiva become inflamed. This gives your eye the red or pink color that’s commonly associated with conjunctivitis.
SYMPTOMS
- pink or red-toned eyes
- a gritty feeling in your eyes
- watery or thick discharge that builds up on your eyes at night
- itchiness in your eyes
- abnormal amount of tears
Causes
Causes of pink eye include:
- Viruses.
- Bacteria.
- Allergies.
- A chemical splash in the eye.
- A foreign object in the eye.
- In newborns, a blocked tear duct.
Risk factors
Risk factors for pink eye include:
- Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis.
- Exposure to something you’re allergic to, for allergic conjunctivitis.
- Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses.
Complications
In both children and adults, pink eye can cause inflammation in the cornea that can affect vision.
- Eye pain.
- A feeling that something is stuck in your eye.
- Blurred vision.
- Light sensitivity.
Conjunctivitis in Ayurveda
As per Samhitas ( Ayurvedic texts), an eye disease named Abhishyanda can be co-related with conjunctivitis. Abhishyanda is composed of two words: Abhi which means profuse or more and shyanda which means discharge and secretion.
Any disease in Ayurveda occurs because of the vitiation of the three doshas: Vata, Pita, and kapha. Based on the vitiation of doshas, Abhishyanda can be classified under four —
- Vataj Abhishyanda: In this, a person experiences unbearable pain in the eyes.
- Pittaj Abhishyanda: In this, a person experiences a burning sensation in the eyes.
- Kaphaj Abhishyanda: In this, the person experiences severe itching and water discharge from the eyes.
- Raktaj Abhishyanda: In this, the eye becomes red and the person experiences itching, pain, and burning sensation in the eye.
