Learn about Common Types of Eye Infections and How to Prevent Them
Millions of Americans suffer from eye infections every year. These can impair vision and cause uncomfortable symptoms. Dr. Del Piero, Dr. Rosenblum, and the rest of our ophthalmological team are dedicated to helping patients preserve healthy vision with a wide range of eye care services and treatments. At Monterey County Eye Associates, we educate our patients about common types of eye infections and how to prevent them. Understanding the symptoms can help you seek treatment sooner, and you can avoid the hassle and discomfort of eye infections altogether if you take the right precautionary steps. Read on to learn about the common types of eye infections and what you can do to become more proactive about your ocular health.
Know Your Symptoms
You may have an eye infection and should contact our office for advice if you experience any of the following:
- Ocular discomfort
- A persistent feeling that something is stuck in your eye when there isn’t
- Red, yellow, green, or clear liquid discharge in your eyes
- Discoloration of your iris or sclera, especially redness
- Light sensitivity, which may make seeing at night difficult or cause you to see halos, rings, or starbursts
- Inflammation around your eyes and eyelids
- Blurry or hazy eyesight
- Dry eye
- Ocular irritation or itchiness
- Flaking skin around your eyes
- Sudden difficulty putting in contact lenses
- Cloudiness in your eye
All of the above are signs that your eye may be fighting an infection. Early detection and treatment can prevent this condition from progressing and potentially causing more serious damage to your eye.
Common Eye Infections
The most frequently reported forms of eye infection are:
- Pink eye. Technically called conjunctivitis, this infection occurs when bacteria or a virus causes your eye’s conjunctiva, or white, to swell. As your ocular blood vessels grow larger, they give your eye a red or pink appearance. An allergic reaction can also cause conjunctivitis. Pink eye is one of the most common eye infections because it has numerous potential triggers and is often highly contagious.
- Herpes simplex. If the herpes virus attacks your eye, it can create scarring and sores on your cornea, as well as swelling. Herpes simplex can cause deeper corneal damage and compromise your vision if left untreated.
- Acanthamoeba keratitis. Acanthameoba are tiny parasites that can live in sewage systems, pools, and tap water. If you wear contact lenses in a pool or hot tub, or use contaminated water or solution to clean them, these organisms can be passed from your lens to your eye, where they can inflame your cornea. Unfortunately, this condition is often challenging to treat and may require corneal surgery to resolve.
- Fungal eye infection. Similar to acanthamoeba keratitis, if you do not properly clean your contact lenses, fungi can grow on them and transfer to your eye. This causes serious infection that may require a corneal transplant to treat.
Preventive Steps
Proper ocular hygiene can greatly reduce your risk for infection. To keep your eyes clean and healthy you should:
- Avoid sharing eye make-up, wash cloths, linens, or eye medicine with anyone to prevent infection from spreading
- Cover your eyes with glasses or goggles if you may be exposed to dust, chemicals, or other particulate matter
- Limit touching your face or rubbing your eyes
- Wash or sanitize your hands regularly
- Use ophthalmologist-approved contact lens solutions to clean your lenses when you take them out
- Never rinse your contact lenses with tap water
- Do not wear your contact lenses when swimming (unless you wear protective eyewear over them)
- Switch your contact lens storage case every season and clean it between uses
- Follow your ophthalmologist’s instructions for wearing contact lenses
- Clean your eye glasses on a regular basis
Taking the above precautions can safeguard you against infection.
Enjoy Healthy Eyes
If you’d like to learn more about the preventive measures you can take to preserve your ocular health or if you are currently experiencing symptoms of an eye infection, please contact our office today.
