How is an eye infection treated?
- Using damp, warm or cool compresses to make your eyes feel better.
- Using lubricating eye drops (artificial tears).
- Using over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.
- Avoiding allergens that caused the reaction in the first place.
All about the eyes!
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Here is a collection of articles that cover a range of topics from eye care tips to eye treatments.
Eye symptoms (conjunctivitis)
- Red eyes.
- Itchy eyes.
- Constant watery eyes.
- Eye pain.
- Sticking of the eyelids.
- Sometimes pus may also come out of the eye.
Causes of conjunctivitis
- Get infected by sneezing/coughing
- through direct contact
Allergic conjunctivitis
- from pet dander
- from dust-particulate waste
- From total-fruit pollen
What to do if there is an eye?
- An infected person should wear glasses.
- If there is water coming out of the eyes, clean it with a tissue paper when it flows on the cheeks.
- Keeping the handkerchief of an infected person separate.
- An infected person should wash their hands frequently.
- A parent caring for an infected child should wash their hands frequently.
- Get treatment as per doctor’s advice.
What not to do if the eye has come
- Do not touch the eye with your hand or rub the eye.
- Avoid shaking hands with an infected person and do not touch anything they have touched.
- Avoiding the use of items that have been used by an infected person.
- Do not self-inject antibiotic or steroid drops into the eye
- Avoid other children playing with infected children.
Conjunctivitis
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Often called “pinkeye,” this is the most commonTrusted Source eye infection.
The conjunctiva is a thin layer of tissue that covers the whites of the eyes and insides of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva.
A person may get the infection in one eye or both.
Types of conjunctivitis include:
- Viral: Affects adults more than children and is the most common type of conjunctivitis.
- Bacterial: A pinkeye that commonly affects children.
- Gonococcal: Common in newborns and sexually active teenagers.
- Chlamydial: Typically occurs alongside a genital infection.
- Allergic: Occurs when allergens enter the eye, such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander.
Irritation from getting a chemical or foreign object in the eye can also cause conjunctivitis. A person may have excessive eye watering or discharge from the eye if this happens.
No matter what the cause of pinkeye, telltale symptoms include:
- discharge from the eye
- eyelids that are crusted together upon waking up
- whites of the eyes that look pink or red
- itchiness in one or both eyes
- feeling like there is sand or grit in the eye
- excessive tears
Diagnosis and treatment
- A health care professional can often recognize conjunctivitis by examining the eye and discussing the person’s symptoms.
- Many people can treat viral conjunctivitis at home.
- Learn more about how to treat conjunctivitis at home here.
Medical treatments for pinkeye by type include:
- Viral: Cold compresses, topical antihistamines, or artificial tears to soothe the eye. A doctor may prescribe antivirals if the cause is the herpes simplex virus (HSV) or the zoster virus.
- Bacterial: Antibiotic eye drops. If the eyes do not improve after 5 daysTrusted Source of treatment, a person should see an ophthalmologist or optometrist immediately. Mild bacterial conjunctivitis may resolve by itself after 2 weeksTrusted Source.
- Gonococcal: Saline solution and antibiotics.
- Chlamydial: Oral antibiotics.
- Allergic: Avoiding allergy triggers or saline eye drops, allergy medications, or allergy shots.
A person should avoid touching their eye and should wash their hands frequently to avoid spreading conjunctivitis to others.
It is wise to contact a pediatrician if an infant has signs of conjunctivitis.
Keratitis
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Keratitis is inflammation or infection of the cornea, which is the clear outer layer on the colored part of the eye.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source state that improper contact lens care increases the risk of keratitis. Wearing lenses for too long or not cleaning and storing them correctly can increase the chance of germs getting into the cornea.
Without treatment, keratitis can cause scarring on the cornea and permanent loss of vision.
The different types of keratitis include:
- Herpes keratitis: This condition happens when the HSV infects the cornea.
- Bacterial keratitis: Improper care of contact lenses can cause bacterial keratitis, but it can also happen from eye injuries, a weakened immune system, and certain eye diseases.
- Parasitic keratitis: A tiny ameba called Acanthamoeba can cause this keratitis, which is also called amebic keratitis. It is a rareTrusted Source type of keratitis.
- Fungal keratitis: Several types of fungi can enter the cornea and cause fungal keratitis. This is more likelyTrusted Source to happen if a person has a weakened immune system, an eye injury, eye disease, or uses contact lenses.
Symptoms of keratitis include:
- redness and irritation of the eyes
- pain in the eyes
- a feeling of something in the eye
- sensitivity to light
- blurry vision
- discharge or watery eyes
Diagnosis and treatment
- A doctor may need to use a special light to view the eye or send a sample of cells to a lab for testing to determine which type of keratitis a person is experiencing.
- Treatment of keratitis may require antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medicine in the form of eye drops or pills.
