How to Get Rid of Eye Inflammation

Inflammation in your eye can be uncomfortable and unsightly, and may result from a bacterial infection, exposure to UV light, viral infections, or even as part of disease processes from ailments like tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment for inflammation of the eye differs depending on the cause of the inflammation. A visit to your optometrist will be in order to diagnose your individual case. Most often, inflammation of the eye is easily treated.

Visit your optometrist or family practitioner to determine the cause of your eye inflammation.

There are two main types of inflammation of the eye: conjuctivitis (pink eye) and uveitis. Uveitis is classified into four categories: choroiditis (affects a sub-layer of the retina), retinitis (affects the back of the eye), cyclitis (affects the middle portion of the eye), and iritis (affects the iris). Your doctor will identify which condition you have by conducting an eye exam and by ordering blood tests.

Adhere to a steroid regimen as prescribed by your doctor if you’ve been diagnosed with a non-infectious form of eye inflammation.

The steroids will likely be in the form of eye drops that you will need to use in your affected eye(s) for a certain period of time. These drops help to ease the pain associated with the inflammation and help your eyes to heal.

Adhere to an antibiotic regimen as prescribed by your doctor if you’ve been diagnosed with infectious uveitis or conjuctivitis. Infectious eye inflammation is caused by an infection in the eye, so antibiotic drops or oral medication may be prescribed.

Continue to take the antibiotic medication or use antibiotic drops for as long as your doctor tells you to. Even if your eye begins to look or feel better, it is important that you finish the antibiotics to your doctor’s specifications so that the infection does not return.

Treat uveitis or conjunctivitis at home by putting warm compresses over the affected eye to reduce pain. If your the eye is sensitive to light, you may wear dark sunglasses until your eye heals to prevent this. To reduce pain and swelling at home, try taking aspirin or ibuprofen as directed on the bottle. If the condition worsens, you need to see a doctor.

Follow up with your doctor. Some forms of uveitis are indicative of an underlying medical problem such as lupus, tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis, all of which require extra treatment. Your doctor may want to rule out these or other serious conditions.

In many cases, the cause of uveitis is not clear, but it is thought to be related to stress in some cases.