Symptoms & Treatment of an Eye Infection

Eye infections often occur because of viral or bacterial agents. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a very common type of eye infection; other infections include cellulitis, keratitis, blepharitis and trachoma.

Symptoms

• Persistent redness and itching, pain or discomfort, blurred vision, swelling and discharge are all common symptoms of an eye infection.

Cause

• Eye infections can have a variety of causes. Conjunctivitis, for example, can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, or even foreign objects or substances in the eye. Conjunctivitis is often associated with colds.

Diagnosis

• To determine what type of infection you may have, your doctor may examine the eye and take a sample of fluid from the conjunctiva (outer layer of the eye).

Treatment

• Eye infections often require treatment with medication. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics; viral infections must simply be allowed to run their course, as there is no appropriate treatment.

Prevention

• Prevention of eye infections primarily involves good hygiene--wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes and discard eye cosmetics after an infection. Proper care of contact lenses is critical, as bacteria may build up on the lenses.