What should I do about conjunctival concretions?

Conjunctival concretions are a common ocular condition. Patients with this condition often experience a foreign-body sensation in the eye, blurred vision, itching, and dryness. Although conjunctival concretions do not typically impair visual acuity, they warrant clinical attention and timely treatment—such as professional removal at a hospital—to address associated ocular disorders. So, what should be done about conjunctival concretions? Below, we provide answers to this question.

How to Manage Conjunctival Concretions

1. Removal of Concretions

If conjunctival concretions remain untreated, patients will continue to experience ocular discomfort—and symptoms may progressively worsen. Therefore, once diagnosed, patients should visit a hospital for professional removal of the concretions by an ophthalmologist. This procedure effectively alleviates ocular discomfort. In cases where concretions are particularly difficult to remove, surgical excision may be required.

2. Treatment of Underlying Ocular Disease

Conjunctival concretions commonly arise from chronic, untreated conditions such as trachoma or other forms of ocular inflammation. Thus, even after successful removal of concretions, patients must proceed with step two: treating the underlying ocular disease to prevent recurrence. Typically, topical antibiotics—such as rifampicin eye drops or tetracycline eye drops—are prescribed and prove effective in resolving the underlying inflammation.

3. Regulation of the Spleen Meridian (Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective)

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), conjunctival concretions are often attributed to wind pathogen invasion affecting the Spleen meridian. Hence, even after resolution of the ocular condition, patients should consider regular massage of the Spleen meridian or appropriate use of TCM herbs that dispel wind pathogens and regulate the Spleen meridian—thereby addressing the root internal cause and preventing recurrence. Additionally, following complete resolution of conjunctival concretions, patients should maintain good ocular hygiene and adopt eye-healthy habits to reduce the risk of future ocular disease.

The above outlines management strategies for conjunctival concretions. We hope this information is helpful to you.