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Conjunctivitis means inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the outermost layer of the eye that covers the visible area of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelids. The conjunctiva is almost transparent in normal conditions. Conjunctivitis can be infectious (caused by bacteria or virus), allergic (caused by an allergic reaction), irritant (caused by a foreign body in the eye) or chemical (caused by a chemical substance). Most infectious conjunctivitis are mild and only rarely cause major damage.

Infectious conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria or viruses. The majority (80%) of infectious conjunctivitis are caused by bacteria that normally live in the nose or skin. The remaining cases are viral. Conjunctivitis is the most common ocular infection in children. Although most of conjunctivitis are contagious, and usually do not cause damage to the eye or vision.