Doctor: The right and left eyes are red due to allergies

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Eye specialist Dr. Gisela H. Anissa, Sp.M said that red and swollen eyes in children are usually due to allergies, not viruses or bacteria.

“The child complains about itching, it’s not too red, not too much labeloften occurs in both eyes. Right and left eyes red and itchy. “We may suspect that the child has an allergy,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to Gisela, there are many reasons for allergies in the environment that can make a person’s eyes red, including dust, mites or flies.

Therefore, those who experience allergies should immediately look for the cause to prevent red eye disease from coming back in the future.

“Medication will not remove the problem because if he is still exposed to the source of the allergy it will come back again in the future,” said the doctor who is a member of the DKI Jakarta Branch of the Indonesian Association of Ophthalmologists (Perdami ).

Apart from allergies, viral infection is the most common cause of red eyes. This virus is the same as the one that causes influenza.

Red eyes usually appear before a cough or cold or after the cough and cold have healed. Other symptoms are sore throat, fever.

Then, another reason for red eyes is bacterial infection. To distinguish red eyes caused by viruses or bacteria, it is usually seen from the dirt that comes from the tear glands mixed with dust, oil, mucus and dead skin cells (label).

“If the stains are yellow, sticky bacteria on the buttocksand slightly yellow color. (Petals) Difficult to open. “At the same time, it’s caused by a virus, the spots are white,” said Gisela.

Gisela said that red eyes caused by viruses usually get better on their own. But doctors usually give patients artificial drops of water to flush the virus so that it leaves the surface of the eye quickly.

At the same time, if it is caused by bacteria, eye drops containing antibiotics can be given.

Red eye is one of the most common eye diseases in babies and toddlers. This is inflammation of the membrane that lines the surface of the eyeball or the conjunctiva.

Patients usually complain about swollen eyelids and difficulty opening them label or a slightly thick, yellowish-white liquid.

“So during sleep, fluid collects on the eyelids so when you wake up the lids are difficult to open. Babies and toddlers have slightly droopy eyes, they are swollen, water comes out, they like to be touched because it is itchy, label white or yellow,” said Gisela.

He reminded him that the most important action when you find a case of a child suffering from red eyes is to ask him to keep his hands clean. Especially for babies and toddlers, parents need to keep their children’s hands clean.

Then, if only one eye is red, teach your child to wipe the yellow liquid in his eye with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

“The material is thrown away immediately. Do not use it to clean the other eye as viruses or bacteria are contagious. After that, wash your hands with running water and soap,” he said.

Another thing is not to put anything but medicine in the eyes. This involves soaking some leaves in water, for example, betel or telang.

“We do not recommend soaking water from betel leaves and butterfly pea flowers. We do not know what water is soaking in leaves, bacteria or even fungus,” said the doctor who works at the University Hospital of Indonesia (UI). .