Eye Discharge: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Eye discharge is the condition where liquid leaks out of the corner of your eyes. Every time you blink your eyes, the mucus covering the eyelids are washed off. During sleep, the mucus starts to accumulate and forms a solid later on the sides of the eye. This is often known as gunk and can be found just after you get up in the morning.

While eye discharge is perfectly normal and even healthy, in case a foreign object goes into the eyes, such a discharge may also indicate a problem in your eyes. Usually, such a problem cannot be wiped away from the eyes.

Eye conditions that can lead to discharge includes pink eye, a blocked tear duct, dry eye and a corneal cancer. Pinkeye or conjunctivitis is a condition where the conjunctiva layer of the eyes get infected. This leads to red and watery eyes for the infected person and may also cause abnormal eye discharge as a result of the other symptoms.

A tear duct can get blocked and may cause discharge from the eye since the tear produced by the duct have nowhere to go. The duct is usually infected in such a case.

Eye discharge is usually one of the symptoms that can occur in case of certain eye disorders. The treatment will likely try to rectify the condition causing the eye discharge rather than the eye discharge itself. Furthermore, the treatment depends on the underlying condition.

In case of pink eye or conjunctivitis, the doctor will try to determine what is the cause of the disorder. For instance, in case of bacterial infection, eye-drops and pills may be prescribed to patients. The eye drops can be applied four times a day for at least 5 to 7 days. However, for viral conjunctivitis, no treatment is used, as such an infection must run its course before the patient receives relief from the same.

In case of a blocked tear duct, medications are often avoided. Since the condition is prevalent in small children and babies, doctors usually advise waiting it out, as the condition gets rectified on its own after a few days. Dry eye on the other hand is fairly serious and can cause damage to your eyes. This is why doctors often prescribe artificial tear gels to patients. These gels simulate real tears and can be very useful for people suffering from dry eyes.

If an ophthalmologist detects an underlying condition that is responsible for the eye discharge, you may be eligible for the treatment. The doctor will also need to determine the exact disorder that affects you before a course of treatment can be started.

People who suffer from normal eye discharge, but have no underlying condition affecting the eye should not seek any treatment for the same. Moreover, a person with conjunctivitis should not seek treatment for dry eye or vice versa.

While none of the medication used to treat eye conditions cause severe side effects, there may be some mild effects from the eye drops used. Furthermore, in case of dry eye, artificial tears are used, which may have some additional side effects. These include allergic reactions, such as skin rash, hives or itching. Eye irritation or eye pain is another issue that may affect people using artificial tears.

Post-treatment guidelines for different eye conditions causing discharge may be different. However, in most cases, there are no significant measures to follow after the treatment ends.

Recovery rate depends on the condition causing the abnormal eye discharge. In case of pink eye, the condition usually clears off within a few days or a week after the infection starts. Blocked tear ducts on the other hand may take a bit longer. But will nonetheless be cleared within a month at the longest.

Price of treatment may vary from one location to the next, but overall any eye discharge-related disorder can be treated with just Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000. In case of severe blockage of tear ducts, surgery may be required, which will cost you anywhere between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000.

Results of the treatment will be permanent, although the same condition may recur at a later point of time in life. Pink eye for example may also be caused as a result of viral infections or a common cold, which can occur at certain times of the year.

Alternative forms of treatment for discharge related eye disorders usually include home remedies that one can try out. Conjunctivitis for example can be cured by applying honey on the eyes. Additionally, people can also get relief from the symptoms by using a chamomile eye wash.