What is an Eye infection? Symptoms, Warning Signs, Causes and Treatment Methods

What is an Eye Infection?

An eye infection is a viral infection of the eye that occurs when a potentially harmful microorganism such as a fungus, a virus, or bacteria invades your eyeball or the area surrounding your eye. It can occur in different parts of the eye and can affect just one or both eyes. The two most common eye infections are:-

  • Conjunctivitis: It is also known as pink eye. Mostly, it is often due to an illness. Most children frequently get it, and it is very contagious.
  • Stye: Stye is a bump on the eyelid that happens when bacteria from your skin get into the hair follicle of an eyelash.

Symptoms of an Eye Infection

When you have an infection, you may have different symptoms in one eye or both.

How your eye feels: You may notice some of these problems like:-

  • Pain or discomfort
  • Itchy eyes
  • Eye hurts when it’s bright (light sensitivity)
  • Burning issues in your eyes
  • Small, painful lump under your eyelid or at the base of your eyelashes
  • Eyelid is tender when you touch it
  • Eyes won’t stop tearing up
  • Irritation in your eyes

How your eye looks: When you could have some changes like:-

  • Discharge out of one or both eyes that are yellow, green, or clear
  • The pink color in the “whites” of your eyes
  • Swollen, red, or purple eyelids
  • Crusty lashes and lids, especially in the morning time

How well you see: When you may find you have blurry vision.

What causes an Eye Infection?

However, eye infections are almost always caused by harmful microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, or bacteria. Normally, bacteria may live on your skin, but irritation or a minor injury in the eye can let the bacteria into areas where they don’t usually reside, causing an infection.

However, you can also get an eye infection from severe viruses that usually do not inhabit your skin. In these cases, you may get an eye infection from another person by robbing your eyes after shaking hands or touching other everyday objects after someone is infected. You can also get an eye infection by sharing materials such as cosmetics, towels, or pillows.

What are the risk factors for an Eye Infection?

Several factors increase the risk of developing eye infections. Some people with risk factors will get eye infections. Some of the risk factors for infections may include:-

  • Allergies that inflame the eye
  • Highly exposure to others with eye infections
  • Infection with a common cold
  • Irritation problem in the eyes
  • Use shared materials such as cosmetics, personal care items, or linens.

Reducing your risk of Eye Infections

However, some of these problems are contagious and spread very quickly. You can decrease your likelihood of catching or spreading eye infections by following good hygiene practices, including washing your hands.

However, you may succeed in lowering your risk of eye infections by:-

  • Avoiding close contact with other people who have eye infections
  • Avoiding touching your eyes
  • Following your health consultant’s instructions on wearing, cleaning, and storing your contact lens

How is an eye infection treated?

Treating your eye infection begins with seeking a medical check-up from your health consultant. The medical treatment approaches will depend on the kind and severity of your eye infection.

Medical treatment for Eye Infections

If you have a bacterial eye infection that does not resolve quickly, your health consultant may prescribe antibiotic ointment or drops. Bacterial infections may lead to more discharge from the eye than viral infections, but only your health care provider can determine what kind of eye infection. Be sure to use any antibiotic medications exactly as prescribed, and complete the entire treatment even if your eyes feel better to avoid having your eye infection return.

Last Updated on October 11, 2023 by anup