Eye infections

Eye infection can affect one or two eyes and result from the same bacteria, fungi and viruses that infect other parts of the body.

People have different types of eye infections, and the symptoms are discomforting. Your doctor will need to examine your eyes to determine the type of eye infection and recommend the right treatment. The doctor may also take a sample from the affected area for further investigation.

Most minor eye infections resolve without treatment, but the serious infection can cause permanent vision loss.

If you notice any symptoms of an eye infection, ensure you visit your doctor, as a delayed diagnosis can delay effective treatment and lead to further eye-related issues.

Causes

The most common eye infections result from viral or bacterial infections. Infectious conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is the most common eye infection. This eye infection is highly contagious and spread through hand-to-eye contact.

Styes are another contagious eye infection that occurs when skin bacteria enter an eyelash follicle.

Infections such as gonorrhoea, Lyme disease, tuberculosis, mycosis (fungal infection), syphilis and some parasites can cause inflammation in different parts of the eye. These infections are known as neuroretinitis (optic nerve), chorioretinitis (of the retina), vitritis (of the liquid inside the eye and related blood vessels), keratitis (of the cornea) and blepharitis (of the eyelid).

Symptoms

Eye infections aren’t always dangerous but cause a lot of discomfort. The most common eye infection symptoms are:

• Soreness
• Redness
• Watery eyes
• Swelling of the eyelid
• Itching
• A scratch feeling on the cornea
• Crusting of the eyelid
• Small, visible blood vessels (bloodshot eyes)
• Aversion to bright light (photosensitivity)
• A feeling of having an object stuck in the eyes
• Discharge (clear or watery with viral infection. But thicker, and yellow or green with bacterial infection)

Diagnosing eye infections

Your doctor can diagnose eye infections with the following.

• Visual acuity test

  This is a common eye chart test. It measures the ability to see at different distances using a several lenses.

• Pupil dilation

  The doctor will administer an eye drop to widen the pupils for a close-up exam of the retina and lens.

• Lab tests

  Sometimes, the doctor will take a sample of the discharge from the eye to be cultured to determine the exact cause of an eye infection.

Eye infection treatments

In most cases, the following can treat eye infections.

• Warm compress
• Prescription eye drops, such as antibiotic eye drops for bacterial infections
• Eye ointments

Treating the underlying source of the infection from another part of the body is important, especially if it is a sexually transmitted disease.

Visiting a doctor as soon as possible is important if you experience symptoms of an eye infection. Early treatment can prevent an eye infection from spreading or worsening.