Conjunctivitis Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences What is Conjunctivitis? Conjunctivitis (sore eyes) is a common eye condition. It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva and the eyelids, usually due to a viral or bacterial infection and therefore contagious. Occasionally, conjunctivitis can be due to other causes like allergies or injury.
Many people think that they can get sore eyes by staring too hard, and that wearing sunglasses helps prevent the spread of sore eyes. These are myths. The main cause of sore eyes is contamination when you use your hands to wipe your eyes or tears, and poor contact lens hygiene. If in doubt, consult your eye doctor to determine the cause of your eye infection and get advice on the best course of treatment.
Conjunctiva (lines inner eyelids and surface of the eye)
inflamed conjunctiva