Conjunctivitis

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Pink eye or Conjunctivitis is a common condition which causes the surface of your eye to go red and, often, sticky or watery and your eye becomes sore. There are two types of conjunctivitis:

Viral conjunctivitistends to cause a watery red eye and can last for two to three weeks even with the correct treatment. Generally, viral conjunctivitis does not affect vision but in some cases vision may become blurry or see glare when looking at lights. This is due to an inflammatory reaction causing small white dots on the cornea, the transparent window at the front of the eye. These usually fade with time, but it can take a few weeks or even months.
Bacterial conjunctivitisis more likely to cause a red eye with a sticky yellow discharge.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by infection from bacteria, viruses or other organisms as well as through allergy or inflammation.

Itchy eyes or watery eyes
Redness over the white of the eye which can be mild to very severe
Pus like discharge from the eye
Eyes are usually sticky and crusty in the morning or after sleep
Mild lid swelling
Mild discomfort or irritation but no pain

There is no antiviral medication for viral conjunctivitis and it does not respond to antibiotic drops as it is not caused by bacteria. The best treatment for viral conjunctivitis is to use artificial tears and simple painkillers, with regular lid cleaning and cold compresses. Conjunctivitis disappears when the body becomes immune to the virus and fights the germs off similar to a cold or ‘flu. Less often, steroid drops are prescribed for severe cases of viral conjunctivitis or when the cornea is affected.
In cases with bacterial conjunctivitis, Antibiotic drops can be helpful and are usually prescribed for 7 days or two-week course.
It is important to refrain from using contact lenses during any type of conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis Specialists

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Dubai

Dr. Nadim Habash

Consultant Ophthalmologist in Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases

Dr. Nadim Habash is an American Board-Certified Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in Cornea, Ocular Surface Diseases, and General Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City. Dr. Nadim undertook his speciality training at George Washington University in Washington D.C., U.S.A., where he also served as Chief Resident. He then acquired an additional Cornea and External Disease Fellowship at the University of Florida, Gainesville, U.S.A. Dr. Nadim is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada FRCS(C). Over the past 40 years, Dr. Nadim has had extensive experience in Corneal transplantation and Anterior Segment Diseases in several countries, including the United States of America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Dr. Nadim has worked and held leadership and academic positions in prestigious institutions, including the University of Ohio at Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A., the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia, and at the American Hospital Dubai, where he held key positions including Chief of Medical Staff, Assistant Chief Medical Officer and Director of Ophthalmology. Dr. Nadim published several papers about Corneal transplantation, chaired many scientific conferences and symposia, and participated actively in teaching medical students and Ophthalmology residents. Throughout his career, Dr. Nadim held memberships in several scientific organisations, including a fellowship of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Ophthalmology membership, and many regional and local societies

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Dr. Alia Issa

Aesthetic Oculoplastic Surgeon

Dr. Alia Issa is an Aesthetic Oculoplastic Surgeon, specialising in surgical and non-surgical aesthetic eye treatments at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City. Dr. Alia is a German board-certified ophthalmologist who completed her medical school and residency training at leading institutions in Germany. She also holds a PhD in Ophthalmology from the University of Dresden, Germany. She went on to expand her expertise and subspecialise in Aesthetic Oculoplastics by completing a Fellowship training in London at the Ezra Clinic and an Honorary Fellowship in Oculoplastics at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Dr. Alia has over 13 years of regional and international experience in Ophthalmology, including in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. In her career, she has practised in leading medical institutions such as Moorfields Eye Hospital London, and Schlosspark Hospital Berlin, an academic hospital of the Charite University Hospital Berlin, Gemrany. She is a member of the German Ophthalmic Society.

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