Eye infections, when not treated timely and properly, can be extremely damaging for your eye health. Eye infections take place when there is an invasion of any harmful organism in any part of the eye.

While usually, the sources of these eye infections are viruses or bacteria, sometimes there can be other factors that can contribute to it. The treatment of the infection depends on the type of infection a person has contracted. Therefore, to ensure complete eye health, it is important to stay aware of all the symptoms, causes, and risks associated with eye infections.

Symptoms of common eye infections

Although the symptoms can vary based on the type of eye infection, certain symptoms are commonly found. They include

• Redness
• Pain
• Discharge
• Watering
• Dryness
• Heightened sensitivity to light
• Swelling or inflammation
• Itchiness
• Blurry vision
• Small and painful lumps beneath the eyelid
• Tenderness of the eyelids
• Crust formation on the eyelashes and lids after waking up

To make sure that you get proper treatment, you must rush to see a doctor as soon as you notice any of the symptoms. If you try to self-diagnose the infection at home and avoid going to a doctor, it will only delay the treatment and can cause severe damage to the eye or even complete vision loss.

Causes of eye infections
Depending on the type of eye infection that you have contracted, the causes can vary.

• Conjunctivitis
  This extremely contagious eye infection is also called pink eye. It commonly affects children who visit classrooms, daycare centers, and places with similar settings. This type of eye infection is usually caused by a viral or bacterial attack.
• Viral keratitis
  Other than conjunctivitis, there are several other eye infections caused by a virus attack, such as ocular herpes. This type of eye infection is caused when the eye gets exposed to a virus known as Herpes simplex.
• Fungal keratitis
  This type of eye infection has been associated with a fungus known as Fusarium, which is usually found in organic matter. This kind of infection can be caused by an injury to the eye when a tree branch penetrates through it.
• Acanthamoeba keratitis
  This is a type of infection that is caused by parasites and can lead to loss of vision if not treated on time. People who use contact lenses are at a greater risk of contracting this condition since their chances of getting attacked by parasites in the eye are higher.
• Trachoma
  This is a severe kind of eye infection which is caused by a type of bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. This condition is one of the leading causes of blindness across the globe.

Risk factors of eye infections

There are several risk factors associated with eye infections. Most of them include

• Poor eye hygiene
• People with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
• People who wear contact lenses
• A prior eye injury