If you’ve noticed pain, swelling, itching, or redness in your eye, you likely have an eye infection. These eye infections fall into three specific categories based on their cause: viral, bacterial, or fungal. But, the good news is eye infections aren’t hard to spot. Hence, you can seek eye infection treatment quickly.

Here’s everything you need to know about the eight most common eye infections so you can figure out the cause.

1.Eye infection treatment for conjunctivitis/pink eye

Infectious conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is one of the most common eye infections. It happens when blood vessels surrounding your eyeball become infected by bacteria or a virus. Hence, your eyes turn pink or red and become inflamed. It can also result from allergies or exposure to chemicals like chlorine in swimming pools.

Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria or viruses is highly contagious. You can spread it for up to two weeks after the infection starts. Hence, it is recommended you get eye infection treatment as soon as possible. 

2.Keratitis

Infectious keratitis happens due to an infection in your cornea. It results from either an infection (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic) or an eye injury. Although, Keratitis isn’t always infectious.

You’re likely to develop keratitis if:

  • you wear contact lenses
  • your immune system is weak from another illness
  • you live somewhere that’s humid and warm
  • you injure your eye

3.Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an inflammation of your eyelids where the skin folds to cover your eyes. This type of inflammation is usually caused by the clogging of the oil glands inside the eyelid skin at the base of your eyelashes. Bacteria may also cause this condition. Consult your ophthalmologist and seek eye infection treatment immediately. 

You’re likely to develop blepharitis if you:

  • have scalp or eyebrow dandruff
  • are allergic to your eye or face makeup
  • have oil glands that don’t work properly
  • have lice or mites on your eyelashes
  • take certain medications that affect your immune system

 4.Sty

A sty (also called a hordeolum) is a pimple-like bump that develops from an oil gland on the edges of your eyelids. These glands get clogged with dead skin, oils, and other matter and can allow bacteria to overgrow in your gland. It will result in an infection called Sty.

 5.Cellulitis

Eyelid cellulitis is an infection of the eye tissues. An injury like a scratch often causes this to your eye tissues that introduce infectious bacteria. Young children are more likely to get cellulitis.

If you have any of the above symptoms or conditions, contact an ophthalmologist immediately. Similarly, at Maxivision, we have garnered the trust of our patients for many years. From surgeries to eye infection treatment, we have specialists to treat them all.