Eye infections happen; we’ve all had a child come home with pink eye. While some eye infections can be treated at home, others must be treated by a professional immediately to avoid permanent vision loss or blindness. In this article, we take a look at common eye infections, their symptoms, and treatment.
What Causes an Eye Infection?
Eye infections develop when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites enter the eye and begin growing there. This can happen if the eye is scratched or injured. Infections can also occur if the eye is exposed to dirty or improperly-fitting contact lenses. Another way an infection can occur is if someone touches germs on a surface and then touches their eye.
Common Eye Infections
Blepharitis
This condition causes inflammation of the eyelid. The edges of your lids turn red or dark in color and become swollen and scaly. It usually affects both eyes and develops due to infection, a skin condition that causes irritation, or when the oil glands become clogged. While blepharitis is a term for inflammation, it can lead to an infection in your eye. Most cases aren’t contagious and aren’t likely to lead to blindness.
Some symptoms include:
- Swollen and/or greasy eyelids
- Red, irritated eyes that itch or burn
- Crusting of eyelashes and eyelid corners
- Flakes of skin collecting around your eyes and eyelids
- Dry eye or excessive tearing
- Excessive blinking
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Loss of eyelashes or eyelashes that grow toward your eyes
Treatment includes self-care, such as avoiding eye makeup and applying warm compresses. Depending on the type of blepharitis, you may be prescribed treatments such as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatories, or immunomodulators. If not controlled, complications can occur, such as styes, pink eye, or a corneal ulcer.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of your skin and the tissues beneath your skin. While it most commonly affects the lower part of your body, it can also appear on your face. It appears around damaged skin, but also in areas of your skin with poor hygiene.
You are more likely to get cellulitis if:
- You are a child
- You have a wound, ulcer, bug bite, animal bite, surgical incision, tattoo, or piercing
- You have a long-lasting chronic skin condition like eczema or psoriasis
- You have chickenpox or shingles
- You have a weakened immune system
- You have obesity
Symptoms include:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Edema (swelling)
- Warmth
- Discoloration that may look like a rash
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Skin surface that looks lumpy or pitted
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
Treatment includes taking a full course of antibiotics that a doctor prescribes. But you can also speed up the healing process by using a warm compress, elevating the affected area, and using compression wraps or compression stockings to reduce swelling and improve blood flow.
Dacryocystitis
This is an infection of your tear sac that can happen when your tear ducts become blocked and can’t drain properly. It can happen in newborn infants and adults. It can be both acute and chronic. For chronic dacryocystitis, surgery can be a possible option to stop recurrences.
Symptoms include:
- Eye pain
- Swelling around the eye
- Redness or skin darkening
- An abscess or sore that may have discharge (pus) in the inner corner of your eyelids
- Fever
Factors that can lead to dacryocystitis include:
- Being 40 or older
- Trauma or surgeries on your nose
- Other medical conditions involving your immune system or other types of inflammations or infections like sinusitis
- Having an unusual nasal structure
- Tumors
- Certain drugs (timolol, dorzolamide, pilocarpine, trifluridine, fluorouracil, docetaxel, radioactive iodine)
- Retained punctual plugs
Treatment is an oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotic. Antibiotic ointment or drops may also be suggested. Using a warm compress can relieve some of the symptoms and you might also try gently massaging the area.
Pink Eye
Pink eye is inflammation in the conjunctiva (clear membrane that covers part of your eye and the inside of your eyelid). The medical name for pink eye is conjunctivitis. It can be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal and parasitic infections.
It’s extremely common and can affect one or both eyes at the same time. It can be both acute or chronic. Acute generally lasts fewer than four weeks, while chronic lasts for more than four weeks. Noninfectious conjunctivitis can be caused by allergens, irritants, or toxic substances; an eye injury; or other health conditions such as autoimmune disease, tumors, or eye cancer.
Symptoms include:
- Red eye
- Thick discharge (yellow, green, or white)
- Crusting on your eyelashes or eyelids
- Feeling like something is stuck in your eye
- Dry, watery, itchy, irritated eyes
- Burning eyes
- Blurred vision (may come and go)
- Light sensitivity
- Swollen eyelids
- Eye pain (usually mild)
Treatment can include a prescription such as an antibiotic or antiviral. Your healthcare provider may also suggest other home treatments to manage symptoms including over-the-counter pain relievers, a warm compress, and artificial tears.
Stye
A stye is a painful bump on the edge of your eyelid that forms when a blocked oil gland near your eyelashes gets infected. While they are common and usually can be managed at home, you should visit an eye doctor if it affects your vision or seems to be getting worse after a few days.
Symptoms include:
- Swelling of the eyelid
- Discharge from your eye
- Crusting along your eyelid
- Light sensitivity
- Soreness and itching
- Extra tearing
- A scratchy sensation or the feeling that something is in your eye
Some risk factors include:
- A past history of styes
- Blepharitis
- Certain skin conditions like acne, rosacea, or dandruff
- Diabetes
- Dry skin
- Changing hormones
- High lipid levels (poor cholesterol)
Treatment is often home based. Applying a warm compress and taking over-the-counter pain relievers can help with symptoms. Cleaning the eyelid with gentle soap can also help. Don’t use eye makeup or it could delay the healing process and cause your oil gland to become more plugged and infected. You should see an eye doctor if the pain and swelling don’t start to get better after 48 hours of self-care at home or your eye swells shut, pus leaks from the stye, blisters form on your eyelid, your vision gets worse, or the styes keep coming back. Other treatments can include draining your stye through a small incision, antibiotics, or a steroid injection.
Uveitis
This condition is when you have inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of your eye. It can happen for unknown reasons or because of known conditions. Causes include infections (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic), system causes (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, certain autoimmune disorders, and certain types of arthritis), injuries, and medications.
Depending on the area it affects, it can be painful, cause redness and irritation, or even disrupt your eyesight. It can affect one or both eyes at the same time. In severe cases, it can cause permanent vision loss and blindness.
Symptoms include:
- Eye pain
- Red eye or irritation
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Swollen conjunctiva (the thin, clear membrane that protects your eye)
- Pupil shape changes
- White liquid accumulating at the bottom of the front of your eye or in a ring around your iris
- An increase in floaters in your vision
- Gaps or missing sections in your field of vision in the affected eye
- Decreased vision
Treatments vary depending on the cause of uveitis. While there is no cure, some conditions that cause it are curable. It is recommended that the cause be treated in these cases. When there is no known cause, your eye care specialist may use more general treatments such as medications, surgeries, and other approaches to help relieve symptoms and prevent future issues.
Key Takeaways
Many eye infections can be treated at home. However, if symptoms become chronic or worsen after home treatment, you should see your doctor. Medications like antibiotics can help treat infections. Infections in your eye should be taken seriously. In rare cases, some types of infections can lead to permanent vision loss.
