How To Get Rid Of Eye Infections Easily?

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

• What Are Eye Infections?

• Types of Eye Infections

• Factors Causing Eye Infections

• Modes of Infections

• Symptoms of Eye Infections

• Common Eye Infections

• Preventing Eye Infections

• Treatment of Eye Infections  

• FAQs on Rid Of Eye Infections Easily?

What Are Eye Infections?

Are your eyes itchy? Or are you experiencing some discomfort in your eyes? If yes, you are likely to suffer from an eye infection. Though your doctor would make the final call, this article can give you some clues about your condition. Eye infections are common medical problems, and people of all ages frequently suffer from eye infections. They may be annoying, unpleasant, and even dangerous to your eyes if they are not treated properly on time. Any condition affecting the eyes that are caused by a microbe, such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus, is an eye infection. Three regions of the eye that commonly experience infections are:

• Eyelid

• Cornea (the eye’s clear outer surface)

• Conjunctiva (the moist layer on the inside of your eyelids and the outer surface of your eye, excluding the cornea)

The good news is that eye infections are easy to identify, allowing people to receive treatment immediately. From identifying the cause and taking appropriate action, here is all the information you need to know about the most common eye infections.

Types of Eye Infections

Most eye infections are caused due to inflammation of the three major regions of the eye mentioned above, namely - the Eyelid, Cornea, and Conjunctiva. A brief explanation of these three types of infections is given below.

Inflammatory disorders of Eyelids:

1. Blepharitis 

2. Style

3. Chelation

4. Internal hordeolum

Inflammation of Cornea - Keratitis:

Inflammation of the cornea is known as keratitis. Common types of keratitis include:

1. Infective keratitis

• Bacterial keratitis

• Viral keratitis

• Fungal keratitis

• Chlamydial keratitis

• Protozoal keratitis

• Spirochaetal keratitis

2. Allergic keratitis

3. Traumatic keratitis may be due to mechanical trauma, chemical trauma,  thermal burns, or radiation.

4. Idiopathic keratitis

Inflammation of Conjunctiva - Conjunctivitis:

Inflammation of the conjunctiva is known as conjunctivitis. 

Common types of conjunctivitis include:

1. Infective conjunctivitis

   • Bacterial conjunctivitis

   • Chlamydial conjunctivitis

   • Viral conjunctivitis

2. Allergic Conjunctivitis

3. Toxic conjunctivitis

Factors Causing Eye Infections

Many factors can cause eye infections or may predispose you to the agents responsible for the infection. These predisposing factors are: 

1. Age - Age plays a vital role in eye infections. Eye infections are more common in children and young adults. They may even be seen in older age

2. Chronic conditions - Chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension predispose you to eye infections.

3. Immunodeficient conditions - Patients suffering from diseases like AIDS, cystic fibrosis, etc., are more predisposed to eye infections. 

4. Habitual rubbing of the eyes or fingering of the lids and nose.

5. Poor hygienic conditions - using other's used towels and handkerchiefs 

6. Insects

7. The hot, dry climate

8. Poor sanitation - like not washing your hands properly before touching your eyes

9. Chemical irritants

10. Dust

11. Use of Contact lenses

Modes of Infections

Conjunctiva may get infected from three sources, viz, exogenous, local surrounding structures, and endogenous, by following modes:

1. Exogenous infections may spread:

   • Directly through close contact, as airborne infections or as waterborne infections

   • Vector transmission (e.g., flies)

   • Material transfer, such as infected fingers of shared towels, handkerchiefs

2. Local spread may occur from neighboring structures such as infected lacrimal sacs, lids, etc.

3. Endogenous infections may generally occur occasionally via blood

Symptoms of Eye Infections 

Although there are many other eye infection symptoms, the following are some of the most typical:

1. Red or pink eyes

2. Swollen eyes

3. Light sensitivity

4. Pain in eyes or eyelids

5. Discharge from eyes

6. Watery or teary eyes

7. Itching

8. Dry eyes

9. Blurred vision

10. Fever

11. The sensation of a foreign body in the eyes

Common Eye Infections

Conjunctivitis:

Also referred to as pink eye, conjunctivitis develops when a virus or bacteria infects the blood vessels in the conjunctiva. Pink eye is incredibly contagious in its microbiological form (there is also a noncontagious allergic form). 

Conjunctivitis Symptoms include: 

• Your eyes have a reddish or pinkish color.

• When you first wake up, your eyes will produce a watery discharge that is thickest if you experience itchiness or the sensation that something is constantly in your eyes.

• Production of more tears than usual, usually in one eye.

Stye:

On the outside corners of your eyelid, stye appear as a little lump or pimple. An infection of the oil glands brings it on in that area of the eye by bacteria.

Stye symptoms include:

• pain or tenderness

• itchiness or irritation

• swelling

• more lacrimation

• crustiness around eyelids

Keratitis:

A viral, bacterial, or fungal infection of the cornea is known as keratitis. It might also happen as a result of eye damage. Wearers of contact lenses are particularly prone to developing keratitis.

Keratitis symptoms can include:

• redness and swelling in your eyes, pain

• eye pain 

• discomfort in the affected eye

• more tears than usual or an abnormal discharge

• opening and closing your eyes causes you pain or discomfort

• loss of some vision or blurry vision

• light sensitivity

• irritation - the sensation of a foreign object in the eye

Blepharitis:

Eyelid irritation brought on by bacteria is known as blepharitis. Like stye, the condition is brought on by blocked oil glands at the base of the eyelashes.

Symptoms of blepharitis are: 

• Eye or eyelid redness, itchiness, swelling

• Burning sensation in your eyes

• Irritation in the eye

• Light sensitivity 

• More lacrimation

• A layer of crust on your eye corners or eyelashes

Uveitis:

An infection of the uvea, the pigmented layer of the eye that includes the choroid and iris, is known as uveitis. Viral infections, ocular traumas, and immune system deficits are some of the causes. 

Uveitis symptoms can include:

• Eye redness

• Pain

• Something floating in your visual field

• Light sensitivity

• Blurry vision

Preventing Eye Infections 

There are various precautions you can take to prevent getting an infectious eye infection:

• Without first cleaning your hands, avoid touching your eyes.

• Clean bedsheets and towels should be available to any family members with an eye infection. However, ensure they are kept private and not shared with anybody else.

• Don't make too much personal contact with somebody who has an eye infection if you're around them.

• Use disinfectant cleansers and sprays in public areas.

• Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses if you wear them.

• Be aware that the likelihood of developing an eye infection increases noticeably when wearing contact lenses.

• Additionally, allergic responses to cosmetics or makeup can raise the risk of developing new infections. 

Treatment of Eye Infections 

Diagnosis of eye infection depends mainly on visual evidence. If you think you are suffering from an eye infection, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. You should maintain eye hygiene and avoid touching your eyes too much if you have the symptoms mentioned above. Bacterial infections are usually treated using antibiotics, steroids, and eye drops. These drugs can be administered orally or topically. While many common viral eye infections heal on their own, severe viral eye infections may require the use of antiviral eye drops. In some viral infections, steroid eye drops must be used sparingly to reduce inflammation. You can also try cold compression if needed. It would be best if you avoided self-medication. Consult your doctor today for proper diagnosis and treatment.