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Conjunctivitis In Kamloops, BC

Don’t Lock Yourself Away – Visit Our Kamloops Office for Diagnosis and Treatment

Conjunctivitis has a reputation for being an extremely contagious disease – did you know that there are 3 forms of the condition, of which two are quite contagious?

It’s important to get a professional consultation, since self-diagnosis can lead to a treatment regime which does more harm than good. Book an appointment today and benefit from one of our hour-long eye health exams as well as testing that is tailored to confirming the type and severity of your condition.

If you or your child exhibits serious, fast-onset symptoms, consider arranging an emergency eye appointment rather than starting a self-diagnosed treatment plan.

What Is Conjunctivitis?

The membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the surface of your eye is called the conjunctiva. When this gets infected, or irritated, by an external stimulus (like a foreign bacteria or virus) it can become inflamed, red, itchy and even swollen. A full list of probable symptoms is as follows:

Itchiness and inflammation
Swelling
Fatigue
Excessive tearing
Watery discharge (viral conjunctivitis) or thick, yellow discharge (for bacterial cases)
A persistent burning sensation
Intermittent blurred vision

Can I Avoid It?

There are 3 types of conjunctivitis: bacterial, viral and allergic. The only form you can truly “avoid” is the allergic type, if you have known allergies (such as pollen) and can actively avoid spores. For the others, good personal hygiene will help, but there’s not much you can do when exposed to the pathogen involved.

Conjunctivitis is very common among schoolchildren, where outbreaks can spread around entire classrooms in a matter of days. If you hear news of an outbreak at school, it may be advisable to review proper handwashing techniques with your kids and monitor them closely for the signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Bacterial, Viral and Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic

This is the least common but most easily controlled type of pink eye. If you suffer from seasonal allergies like hayfever, you are more at risk of developing allergic pink eye. It cannot be spread by touch, and symptoms may be alleviated by using antihistamines or other anti-allergy medications, and avoiding your trigger substance

Viral

Carried by the same pathogens which can cause the cold and flu viruses, this is very contagious. The symptoms are not usually vision-threatening or mortal, but they can be extremely uncomfortable for up to several weeks.

Bacterial

This is the most common strain of the disease, and is also very contagious. Usually spread through hand-eye contact, by washing your hands regularly you improve your chances of avoiding infection

How Serious is the Condition?

Each form of red eye causes similar symptoms and can take several weeks to resolve. Mild to moderate discomfort can be alleviated by using warm compresses or lubricating eye drops, while severe cases may require medical intervention specific to your case.

If you are struggling with painful or very persistent symptoms, please get in touch so we can prescribe a treatment option to alleviate your discomfort.

Visit Us Today

You can find us on the corner of St. Paul Street and 3rd Avenue. We are 3 blocks down 3rd Avenue from Royal Inland Hospital, towards downtown. Our office is across the street from the Telus Store and Stuart Wood school yard (where the summer Farmer’s Market is on Saturdays).

Our Address

101 – 286 St Paul St.
Kamloops, BC V2C 6G4

Contact Information

Phone: 250.374.2441
Fax: 250.374.5011
Email: [email protected]

Hours

Monday

7:30 AM – 5 PM

Tuesdays

7:30 AM – 5 PM

Wednesdays

7:30 AM – 5 PM

Thursdays

7:30 AM – 5 PM

Fridays

7:30 AM – 5 PM

Saturdays

7:30 AM – 5 PM

Sundays

Closed

Our Services

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“I’m from out of town and I needed to have my frames replaced. Nicky from the lab helped me reach out to my house of vision from my hometown. A replacement pair was sent here from home! I am very pleased with the service and work done. I would choose this place as my go to if I were to ever move to Kamloops!”

Bryan P.

“Beautiful, inviting office. Very friendly staff. Efficient appointment. 10/10!”

Jamie S.

“Brought in a broken pair of glasses that the frames had been discontinued. Nicky and Tracy went out of their way to find a replacement set of frames, when other shops just told me they couldn’t help. Thank you again”

Jeff P.

Something blew under my safety glasses at work today. I was in agony after flushing my eyes several times and called around to local offices to see if I could get in. I’m new in town, and luckily I happened to ask someone who recommended Nicola Eye Care. When they heard what was going on, they told me to come right away. The front desk staff were unforgettably amazing to me and even took me outside afterward to point to the nearest drugstores. Dr. Ann Byard was very sweet and gentle and explained that I had a giant corneal abrasion. I appreciate everything you did for me today. I’d be at home terrified and probably still trying to find the non-existent thing that feels like it’s in my eye right now if I hadn’t gotten into your office so quickly. Many thanks!

Conjunctivitis In Kamloops, BC

Don’t Lock Yourself Away – Visit Our Kamloops Office for Diagnosis and Treatment