Can I drink alcohol if I have conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is a very common disease in daily life. It can cause great harm to the patient's eyes, so it is particularly important to find a scientific and effective treatment method. Many people don’t know whether patients with conjunctivitis can drink alcohol. This is actually not recommended because alcohol can irritate the eyes, cause congestion and aggravate inflammation. Therefore, patients with conjunctivitis need to pay attention to drinking less alcohol in daily life.

1. Can patients with conjunctivitis drink alcohol?

Try not to drink alcohol. Once alcohol enters the blood, it will irritate the blood vessels under the conjunctiva along with the blood flow, causing more congestion and increased inflammation.

Conjunctivitis is a common and frequently occurring ophthalmic disease, and is a defensive response of the conjunctival tissue to harmful factors. Because the conjunctiva is exposed and in direct contact with the outside world, it is easily infected by pathogenic microorganisms, trauma, or some physical and chemical stimulation. Because the conjunctiva is rich in blood vessels and nerves and is sensitive to various stimuli, when the conjunctiva is damaged, the conjunctival blood vessels will dilate and become congested, secretions will increase, and symptoms of eye irritation will occur.

2. Treatment recommendations

1. Use mast cell membrane stabilizers such as sodium cromoglycate eye drops or the new generation of nedocromil sodium 4-5 times a day. It is best used before exposure to the allergen, as it is less effective in treating patients who have already had an attack.

2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, which can inhibit the production of prostaglandins and the chemotaxis of eosinophils, etc. They can be used in both the acute and intermittent stages of allergic diseases.

3. Glucocorticoid eye drops can be used topically for critically ill patients. They have multiple functions, including releasing mast cell mediators, blocking inflammatory cell chemotaxis, reducing the number of mast cells and eosinophils in the conjunctiva, inhibiting phospholipase A2, and thus preventing the production of arachidonic acid and its metabolites. Patients in the acute phase can use intermittent therapy with glucocorticoid eye drops, first apply glucocorticoid eye drops locally and frequently (such as once every 2 hours) for 5-7 days, and then quickly reduce the dosage. It should be used under the guidance of an ophthalmologist and regular eye examinations should be performed.

Tips: Although glucocorticoid eye drops are powerful and can quickly relieve itchy eye symptoms, it should be noted that glucocorticoid eye drops cannot cure spring conjunctivitis. They are effective when used, but itchy eyes will still exist when not using the medicine. In addition, glucocorticoid eye drops cannot be used for a long time and can only be used for a short time.

4. Antihistamines: They can antagonize the biological activity of released inflammatory mediators, relieve patient symptoms, and have better therapeutic effects when used in combination with mast cell stabilizers.

5. Decongestant eye drops: This type of drug has the effect of constricting conjunctival blood vessels. Commonly used drugs include epinephrine naphazoline, oxymetazoline, tetrahydrozoline, etc., which can improve eye discomfort and reduce ocular surface congestion.

For stubborn cases that still have severe photophobia and cannot lead a normal life after a series of drug treatments (antihistamines, vasoconstrictors), 2% tacrolimus eye drops, especially 0.05% tacrolimus (FK506) eye drops, can be used, which have a good therapeutic effect.