Eye infections are diseases of the eye that are caused by viral, bacterial, or microbiological agents. While mostly non-fatal, some of them can progress to much more dangerous conditions if left untreated. Different types of eye infections are triggered by different causes and have different treatments. While some of the types of eye infections are quite common, while others are very rare.

Common symptoms of the main types of eye infections

• Pain and discomfort
• Feeling that something is stuck inside or on the eye
• Itchy eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Burning sensation
• Eyes that can not stop tearing up
• Small and painful lumps either under the eyelid or on the eyelashes
• Discharge coming out of the eyes
• Swollen and red eyelids
• Pink color inside the whites of eyes
• Blurry vision

Here are some of the main types of eye infections explained along with their symptoms.

• Conjunctivitis: In this, the common symptoms are redness, itching, and discharge. When it is viral conjunctivitis, the discharge is mucous-like or watery, while in bacterial conjunctivitis it is white, green or yellow in color and much thicker.
• Keratitis: Here, the most common symptoms are itching, pain, and a feeling of some foreign object inside the eye, redness and small red lines inside the white of the eye, photosensitivity, yellow pus discharge when one wakes up, swollen eyelids, and involuntary blinking.
• Blepharitis: The symptoms are eyelid and eye redness, swelling, and itchiness. This condition is typically caused by bacteria and you will feel a burning sensation in the eye, a feeling as if something is stuck inside the eye, photosensitivity, abnormal tear production, crustiness around the corners, etc.
• Sty: The common symptoms, in this case, are itchiness, irritation, pain, tenderness, swelling, unusual tear production, crustiness around eyelids, etc.
• Uveitis: This is caused when the uvea becomes inflamed due to infections. The condition may result from viral infections, eye injuries, and a weak immune system. It is treated easily and will typically not cause vision loss unless very severe. Symptoms are pain, redness, “floaters” in the field of vision, light sensitivity, and blurry vision, among others.
• Cellulitis: This happens when the eye tissues are infected because of injuries like a scratch on these which makes way for infectious bacteria. Symptoms are eye redness, swelling and eye kin swelling, but no discomfort or pain.
• Ocular herpes: This occurs when the eye gets infected by HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus, which is why it is called eye herpes. It happens when you come in touch with any person having an active HSV-1 infection. Symptoms start with a single eye before progressing to both, and they are things like pain and irritation, blurry vision, light sensitivity, corneal tears, thick watery discharge, inflammation of the eyelids, etc.

Prevention of the main types of eye infections

• You should not touch your eyes or face using uncleaned hands
• You need to follow an anti-inflammatory diet
• Bathe on a regular basis and wash hands often
• Use only clean towels or tissues for the eyes
• Never share eye make-up or face make-up with others
• Wear contact lenses that fit your eyes well and get them checked by your doctor regularly
• Use a contact solution for disinfecting the lenses each day
• Wash the pillowcases and bedsheets once a week
• Never touch someone with an eye infection like conjunctivitis
• Wash all objects that have come into contact with someone who is infected