What are Eye Infections?
Eye infections occur when harmful bacteria, fungal or viral organisms invade any part of the eyeball or surrounding area of the eye. This includes both the clear front surface of the eye (cornea) and the thin, moist membrane lining the outer eye and inner eyelids (conjunctiva).
What are Common Eye Infection Symptoms?
- Red Eyes
- Pain
- Eye Discharge
- Watery Eyes
- Dry Eyes
- Light Sensitivity
- Swollen Eyes
- Swelling Around The Eyes
- Itching
- Blurry Vision
Anytime you suspect an eye infection, you should always visit your eye doctor for an eye exam. Trying to self-diagnose your condition can delay effective treatment and potentially harm your vision.
Other Eyelid Problems
- Ptosis - drooping of the eyelid – may result from nerve or muscle damage, and sometimes requires surgical correction
- Dermatochalasis - excess or baggy skin on the eyelids, usually from loss of elastic tissue in the skin
- Ectropion - loosening of the eyelid causing it to turn outward, away from the eye
- Entropion - “collapsing” of the eyelid, causing the edge of the lid to turn inward, toward the eye-often results in discomfort due to eyelashes rubbing against the eye
- Blepharoplasty Surgery - is also called eyelid lift surgery. It is done to correct the puffiness, sagging and drooping of upper eyelids. It is also used to remove the excess skin and the bags under the lower eyelid
- Skin cancers on the eyelids - refers to any cancer that develops on or in the eyelid. It is also known as an Epithelial Tumour because it's on the skin's surface. Sebaceous (fat), sweat, or apocrine glands, which are a form of sweat gland, may all cause an eyelid tumour
Infected Eye Appearance
There are many different types of eye infections, and your eye doctor needs to determine the particular type of eye infection you have in order to prescribe the proper treatment.
Infected Eye Diagnosis
Your doctor may take a sample from the affected area of your eye for a culture to assess the exact type of infection you may have. This may help determine the most effective treatment, such as an antibiotic that selectively targets the type of bacteria causing the infection.
Causes and Types Of Eye Infections
There are many Types of Eye Infections some examples of viral, fungal and bacterial eye infections include:
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis is a common, highly contagious eye infection that often is spread among children in daycare centres, classrooms and similar environments.
Teachers and daycare workers also are at increased risk of conjunctivitis when they work in close quarters with young children.
Common infectious conjunctivitis types often have viral or bacterial origins. Infants also can acquire conjunctival eye infections (gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis) during birth when a mother has a sexually transmitted disease.
Other Viral Keratitis
Other viral eye infections (viral keratitis) include:
- Ocular Herpes, which occurs with exposure to the Herpes simplex virus
- Fungal Keratitis gained notoriety when a contact lens solution was linked to an outbreak
Fungal Eye
A fungal eye infection is associated with Fusarium Fungi, commonly found in organic matter. This and other fungi can invade the eye in other ways, such as through a penetrating injury caused by a tree branch.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Acanthamoeba keratitis can relate to contact lens wearers who are at increased risk of encountering parasites that can invade the eye and cause a serious sight-threatening infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.
This is why contact lens wearers should observe certain safety tips, such as avoiding swimming while wearing contacts.
If you do wear contact lenses when swimming or relaxing in a hot tub, make sure you remove and disinfect your lenses immediately afterwards.
Indeed, there is an increased risk of fungal and bacterial eye infections among contact lens wearers in general, and proper contact lens care must be followed.
Contact lens usage guidelines recommend that manufacturers include a discard date (not just a date of expiration) on contact lens cleaning and disinfecting products to help minimise the risk of eye infection.
Eye Infection Treatments
Bacterial Eye Infection Treatments
Where an Eye Infection is caused by a bacteria, in most cases the Eye Infections can be treated using prescription antibiotic eye drops, ointments and compresses.
The sooner a treatment is started for an Eye Infection the less potential damage you are allowing to occur.
Viral Eye Infection Treatments
Many common viral eye infections resolve on their own. In cases of severe viral eye infections, an antiviral eye drop may be prescribed. Some viral eye infections require careful administration of steroid eye drops to reduce related inflammation.
Depending on the underlying cause of your eye infection, your doctor also may prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medications that are taken orally.
