health

In many cases conjunctivitis will clear up by itself in three to four days
without the need to see a doctor. If the condition does not clear by itself,
or if the discharge from the eye contains pus rather than being clear and
watery, the person should see their doctor.
The doctor may take a sexual history or ask about recent exposure
to colds and other viral illnesses or the patient’s use of eye cosmetics or
contact lenses to narrow the diagnostic possibilities. The doctor may
also take a sample of the discharge from the affected eye or eyes for
laboratory analysis in order to determine whether a bacterium or a virus
is the cause.
Severe pain, intense photophobia, and blurred vision are not usually
present in uncomplicated conjunctivitis. A patient with these symptoms
should be examined further for more serious eye disorders, including
glaucoma or inflammation of the interior of the eye. If the patient’s eye
has been irritated by a chemical, the doctor may examine the eye with
a slit lamp to see whether the interior of the eye has also been affected.