Every year, nearly one million Americans visit the doctor for an eye infection. Just like any other infection, infections of the eye happen when the eye, or the area surrounding it, is contaminated with either harmful bacteria, a virus, or a fungus.

Common Eye Infections

One of the most common types of eye infections, microbial keratitis, occurs when those who wear contact lenses are lackadaisical in their eye care routine. Wearing contacts while sleeping, or not cleaning or replacing contacts often enough, can all cause keratitis as well as conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is one of the more commonly known eye infections. It’s often caused by a bacterial or viral infection or is a result of an allergic reaction. Conjunctivitis occurs when the transparent membrane — the conjunctiva — that lines the eye and eyelid becomes inflamed. Although it rarely has long-term effects on vision, conjunctivitis is highly contagious.

Harmful microbes can cause these infections through simple mechanisms if we are not diligently aware of how to keep them at bay.

Prevention is Key

  1. Avoid touching your eyes. Whether we are aware of it or not, our hands tend to make their way to our faces, and when they do, they can be a conduit for germs. The less our hands touch our eyes, the better.
  2. Keep your hands clean. We rub our eyes when we’re tired, we lean on our hands when we’re thinking. Getting in the habit of keeping our hands sanitized ensures that when we do touch our eyes inadvertently, harmful microbes don’t join them on the journey.
  3. Sharing isn’t always caring. Some things just weren’t meant for it. Cosmetics and bath towels should always be just for you. Sharing these items is a great way to share germs that cause infection.
  4. Establish healthy eye care routines. Remove your makeup and contacts before bed. Keep your contacts and eyeglasses clean, and replace them regularly.

Identifying an Eye Infection

“It’s often possible for eye infections to clear up on their own, but if not properly taken care of, infections can cause serious issues,” says Dr. Steven Hosman, an optometrist at Vistar Eye Center. “It’s important to understand the key symptoms of eye infections so that you can connect with your doctor to identify a treatment quickly.”

If you experience any of the following symptoms, an eye infection might be the suspect.

  • Eye pain
  • Eye discharge
  • Watery eyes
  • Dry eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Swollen Eyes or swelling around the eyes
  • Itching
  • Blurry Vision

If you think you or someone in your family may have an eye infection, schedule an appointment with our best-in-class eye care specialists at Vistar Eye Center as soon as possible.