Eye infections are just like guests who pop up without any prior intimation when you least expect them. In no time you notice usual pain, irritation, redness, and swelling and you don’t know what to do next. While seeing a doctor seems like the right thing to do, you can also try some home remedies first. This helps it from spreading and causing further damage. An eye infection may seem a bit daunting but it’s not something that can’t be treated by yourself.
To begin with, there are three types of eye infections – each based on their causes such as viral, bacterial, and fungal. Each of these needs to be treated differently, so you’ve got to identify the cause of your eye infection before you go ahead with any form of treatment. To simplify this, we’ll be talking about some of the most common eye infections, their causes, and their symptoms.
Different Types Of Eye Infections
Conjunctivitis Or Pink Eye
Conjunctivitis which is also commonly known as pink eye or sore eyes is a very common eye infection. This type of eye infection is highly contagious and can easily spread through hand-to-eye contact or objects that are contaminated with the infection.
Causes of Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis occurs when the blood vessels in the conjunctiva, the thin outermost membrane surrounding your eyeball, become infected by bacteria or viruses. Aside from that, it can also occur due to certain allergies or from exposure to chemicals such as chlorine in swimming pools.
Symptoms of Conjunctivitis
- Discharge from the eye
- Crusted eyelids upon waking up
- The whites of your eye turn either pink or red
- Itchiness in one or both eyes
- Excessive tears
Also Read: Common Signs That You Have An Eye Infection
Stye (Sty)
A stye is a bump (similar to a pimple) that grows from an oil gland on the outer edges of your eyelids. Styes are caused due to your oil glands getting clogged with dead skin, oils, and other matter that allow bacteria to overgrow in it.
Symptoms of a Stye
- Pain
- Itchiness
- Swelling
- Excessive tears
Eye Stye Causes
A stye is caused by an infection or inflammation of the oil glands in your eyelid. It happens when you do not clean your eyes well, especially after wearing eye makeup. That’s why it’s so important to remove your makeup and clean your eyes thoroughly before you hit the bed.
Keratitis
Just like any other type of eye infection, keratitis too occurs when bacteria enters your cornea but there’s a catch to this. Unlike the ones we discussed so far, keratitis happens due to improper contact lens care, like not cleaning and storing them correctly or wearing them for past their use or for extended hours. If not treated on time, it can cause scarring on the cornea followed by permanent loss of vision.
Causes of Keratitis
Keratitis takes place when bacteria enter your cornea if you do not follow proper hygiene practices while wearing, storing, and cleaning your contact lenses. The second and the most common cause of keratitis is over wearing your contact lenses or sleeping with your contacts in.
Symptoms of Keratitis
- Redness
- Pain
- Excess tears or discharge from the eye
- Difficulty opening your eyelid due to pain or irritation
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is a bacterial or fungal infection that affects the tissues inside the eyeball. It usually occurs following eye surgery or trauma. If not treated on time, it can cause permanent loss of vision.
Causes
Endophthalmitis occurs when bacteria and fungi get inside the eye during surgery, from an injection into the eyeball, or during an eye injury.
Symptoms
- Excruciating eye pain that gets worse after surgery or post-injury to the eye
- Red eyes
- White or yellow discharge from the eyes
- Swollen or puffy eyelids
- Decreased or blurred vision
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid that either affects the eyelashes or tear production.
Causes of Blepharitis
Blepharitis occurs when tiny oil glands that are located near the base of your eyelashes get clogged. Allergies, dandruff, and certain medications may double up the possibilities of this condition.
Symptoms of Blepharitis
- Red, itchy eyelids that appear greasy and crusted
- Dry eyes (you may or may not experience dry eyes)
Uveitis
Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation of the middle layer of the eye also known as Uvea.
Causes of Uveitis
This type of inflammation is often caused by cat-scratch disease, syphilis, or tuberculosis. It could also be caused by side effects of certain medications, eye injury or surgery, and in rare cases cancer that affects the eye, such as lymphoma (which is a rare case scenario).
Symptoms of Uveitis
- Redness
- Eye pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Dark, floating spots in your field of vision, also known as floaters
- Decreased vision
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a condition or type of eye infection that occurs when the tissues of your eyes get infected.
Causes of Cellulitis
Cellulitis is commonly caused by an injury, for example, a scratch to your eye tissues that allows bacteria to enter or from bacterial infections such as sinus infections.
There are two types of cellulitis:
- Preseptal Cellulitis – the one that affects your eyelids
- Blepharitis – the one that affects the eyeball or causes swelling of the eye or eyelid
Symptoms of Cellulitis
- Bulging of the eye
- Red eyelids
- Swelling around the eye
- Double vision or blurriness
- Trouble moving the eye normally
- Fever
- Tiredness
Ocular Herpes
Ocular herpes which is also known as eye herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. It affects the cornea, that is, the clear front portion of your eyes.
Causes of Ocular Herpes
It is transmitted through contact with another person who is having an outbreak, or through self-contact and contamination during an active herpes infection.
Symptoms of Ocular Herpes
- Eye pain and irritation of the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- Eye tissue or corneal tears
- Thick, watery discharge
- Eyelid inflammation
Frequently Asked Questions On Eye Infections
1
Q. How do I know if I have bacterial or viral conjunctivitis?
A. Viral conjunctivitis usually lasts longer than bacterial conjunctivitis. So, if your conjunctivitis does not recover within three to four days, take it as a sign that the infection you’re having is viral and not bacterial.
2
Q. Should I stay home if I have conjunctivitis?
A. Yes, for as long as you’re experiencing symptoms such as watery eyes and discharge.
3
Q. How long is conjunctivitis contagious?
A. Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious. It can spread to other people as soon as symptoms begin to appear. It remains contagious for as long as the symptoms remain or for approximately 24 hours after starting a course of antibiotics.
4
Q. What is the treatment for a stye?
A. A warm compress works best for treating a stye. All you need is some warm water and a clean cloth. Dip the cloth in the warm water and squeeze out the excess water. Now gently place it over the inflamed area for relief. You may repeat this process at regular intervals for quick relief.
5
Q. How long does a style last?
A. A style usually lasts for about two to five days.
6
Q. Can I pop a stye?
A. You should NEVER pop, rub, scratch, or squeeze a stye. Popping it open causes a wound or injury to the eyelid, thereby, leading to further complications.
7
Q. Is keratitis curable?
A. Yes it is. But for that to happen, you need to stop wearing your contact lenses as soon as your eye becomes inflamed.
