Is conjunctivitis just the medical name for an eye infection?

Question

Or are there many different types of eye infection, and conjunctivitis is only one?

Answer 1

It is a bacterial infection which can be irritated by an allergy - you can also get styes which are small boils at the base of the eyelashes - you can tell the difference by the swelling you get when you get a stye.

You should go to the doctors for both so that the infection doesnt get worse

Answer 2

Eye Infection Names

Answer 3

Conjunctivitis is a term that derived from the name of the outside membrane of the eye, the conjunctiva, and the term -itis, meaning inflammation. Therefore conjunctivitis is a general term for the inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. This can be caused by many things including irritation or infection, either allergic, bacterial or viral in origin. Conjunctivitis is commonly used to descibe eye infections by the general populations though.

Answer 4

Some Eye Infections May Be Contagious
Eye infections may result from exposure to viral, fungal, or bacterial sources. Parasites also can cause eye infections. In some cases, eye infections are contagious.

Common types of eye infections include:


Stys or Styes: Stys or styes often result from bacterial infections affecting eyelid glands or eyelids.


Conjunctivitis or “Pink Eye”: A child or adult with bloodshot eyes and eyelid rims could have a common eye infection or irritation known as “pink eye” or conjunctivitis. “Pink eye” can result from many sources, including dust or other irritants.


Blepharitis: Blepharitis is a type of eye infection or irritation that causes swelling within the eyelid rims or margins, often at the roots of eyelashes.


Keratitis: Keratitis occurs with eye infection or irritation affecting the clear front surface of the eye (cornea).


Dacryocystitis: Dacryocystitis is infection or irritation within the eye’s tear duct or tear sac.


Orbital Cellulitis: Orbital cellulitis involves infection of the hollowed inner eye or orbit, sometimes when infection spreads from other locations. Vision loss and other serious conditions can result without prompt treatment of this eye infection.


Cytomegalovirus Retinopathy: This eye infection is common in people with AIDs, and may progress to blindness. The cytomegalovirus also is very common in the general population, and generally creates only temporary flu-like symptoms. But in individuals with compromised immune systems, the virus can progress to damage the eye’s inner back, light sensitive layer (retina) where images are processed.

Answer 5

Conjunctivitis is an eye infection but I think this is not the only type of eye infection out there.I don't know for sure, but if you have that you should go to a doctor.

Answer 6

Conjunctivitis is one type of eye infection but there are many more different ones.
I suffer from one call Blepharitis, which is basically a dry eye, infection.

Answer 7

Conjunctivitis means literally inflammation of the conjunctiva.It is the name for bacterial or viral infections that affect this specific part of the eye. You can also get allergic conjunctivitis, which is self explanatory. The conjunctiva can also become inflamed without infection in other diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, and ulcerative colitis and Crohn's. ( which are both bowel disorders.)

Answer 8

Conjunctivitis is a common eye infection but you are right, there are other eye infections with various different symptoms. Conjunctivitis is just one of them.

Answer 9

Yes... Its The medical term used for Pink Eyes... There are other eye infections but they all have different medical names...

Answer 10

conjunctivitis is in fact an infection of the conjunctiva, which is a thin membrane that covers the whites of your eyes and the inside of your eyelids.

there are many types of infections involving the eyes.

take a look at this link, it's very informative

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/bodykey/index.aspx?CategoryId=24