If the region around your eye is extremely irritating, you certainly suffer from an eye infection. Bacteria and fungi are the most common causes of eye infection. Eye infections can be treated at home or wait for them to recover on their own. Because the area surrounding the eyes, particularly the inner eyelids and under-eye, is usually extremely sensitive, even minor irritation can cause significant discomfort.
This article discusses the kinds, potential causes, and treatment of eye infections. We’ll also figure out the severity of the eye infection when it’s time to see a doctor.
Types of Eye infections
1. Conjunctivitis
In simple words, conjunctivitis refers to pink eye. As the name implies, conjunctivitis is swelling or itchiness on the patient’s conjunctiva (the thin area of the eyelid). It happens when the blood vessels in your eyelid become inflamed, caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal germs.
Moreover, it is mainly caused by touching your eyes with dirty hands, using someone’s makeup, being exposed to pollution or any allergic substance, or coming into personal contact with someone who has conjunctivitis.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis/eye infection are
- Pink swelled eye
- Irritation in eye
- Watery eye
Conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotics, steroids, and other medications as well. However, you must see your doctor immediately to prevent the infection from worsening. The doctor will correctly determine the cause of conjunctivitis and provide the appropriate treatment. However, you can treat irritation and redness at home by compressing the infected region with a warm moist towel.
You are also advised to keep your eyes clean, keep your hands away from your eyes, and wash them frequently. Sharing your makeup products is never a good idea because it can lead to skin problems and eye infections. Ensure that the contact lenses you’re wearing are entirely free of debris.
2. Endophthalmitis
This type of infection is severe inflammation in the eye. It can happen after specific eye surgery or if an item has pierced the eye. Endophthalmitis is extremely uncommon, but if it does occur, it requires treatment immediately. This infection can be of two kinds:
- Exogenous Endophthalmitis
- Endogenous Endophthalmitis
Exogenous endophthalmitis is caused by any external factor such as eye contact with any instrument during surgery or piercing, excessive fluid loss behind the eye, poor wound healing, and longer operation duration.
Endogenous endophthalmitis is the most uncommon type of eye infection that can be caused by a variety of internal factors. This form of infection usually spreads from another organ to the eye. Surgery and medicine can be used to treat both of these infections. Antibiotics are generally given to the patient as the initial step in treating Endophthalmitis. It will prevent the infection from worsening and will aid in the reduction of edema. Doctors sometimes use steroids to alleviate swelling and pain. The next step would be to remove the infection-causing particle. Attempting to remove it yourself is strongly discouraged; you may injure yourself even more.
After treatment, your eye will take time to recover, and you will notice that you are regaining your normal eye and vision after a few days.
3. Keratitis
If you wear contact lenses frequently, you are more prone to get keratitis. It is an infection caused by any bacteria, virus, or parasite. While noninfectious keratitis is caused by eye damage (damages the cornea of the eye), contact lenses, climate changes, and sunlight exposure. Keratitis can spread from person to person when you come into contact with an infectious substance and then touch your eyes. The risk of keratitis increases when you get sick, and your illness extends to your eyes.
Keratitis can be contracted from one’s own body in rare conditions. This syndrome can be triggered by touching open herpes sore before contacting your eyes. Keratitis is treated with antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. The treatment options depend upon the type of keratitis. The doctor will determine the root of the problem and recommend the appropriate treatment accordingly.
4. Stye
Sometimes you get a huge pimple on the eye, which irritates and swells the eyelid; it is called a style. There are a lot of micro oil glands on your eyelids, especially near your lashes. These microscopic openings can get clogged or blocked due to dead skin, dirt, or oil buildup. Bacteria can thrive inside a blocked gland and cause a stye to form. A stye usually causes:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Watery eyes
- Itchiness etc.
The best treatment to cure stye with pus is to get a warm cloth and press it on the infected area. Warmth aids in bringing pus to the surface and dissolves pus and oil, allowing the stye to drain naturally.
Using warm water, wet a clean washcloth. Check to see if the water is too hot. Wring out the cloth until it is damp but not soaking wet. Then, for around 5 to 10 minutes, gently place it over your eye. Avoid squeezing or puncturing the style. You can also use a tear-free baby shampoo mixed with a small amount of warm water.
Wipe your eyelids gently with it with a cotton swab or clean washcloth. This must be done daily until the stye is gone. Cleaning your eyes might also help you avoid stye in the future. Antibiotics and massage also help with drainage of stye.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/infected-eye#blepharitis retrieved on March 12, 2022.
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/eye-infections.html retrieved on March 12, 2022.
- https://medlineplus.gov/eyeinfections.html retrieved on March 12, 2022.
Written By Mariyam Qurban on behalf of StatCardiologist
