Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, usually caused by viruses, bacteria or allergy. The conjunctiva can become inflamed due to an allergic reaction to dust, mold, pet dander or pollen, and may be irritated by the wind, dust, smoke and other kinds of agents that produce air pollution. You can also experience irritation due to a common cold or an outbreak of measles. Ultraviolet light of an electric arc welding, a sun lamp or even the intense sunlight reflected on snow can irritate the conjunctiva.
In some cases, conjunctivitis can last for months or years. This type of conjunctivitis can be caused by processes in which the eyelid turns outward (ectropion) or inward (entropion), trouble with tear ducts, sensitivity to certain chemicals, exposure to irritants and infection caused by bacteria in particular (typically chlamydia).
Causes
Conjunctivitis can be contracted if the person suffering has been in contact with infected hands or towels. Infections can have a viral origin, since the virus from an infected person spread by air-, or bacterial. The latter is caused by an accumulation of bacteria in the eye that can come from any other infection caused somewhere in the body. It can also be an irritation caused by chemical, wind, dust, smoke or other environmental pollution.
