Eye infections affect millions of people per year and can often require a visit to the doctor. Although they may have similar symptoms, infections vary in their causes. This can include bacterial or fungal infection, a virus, or even caring for your contacts improperly.
It’s important to know the signs of an eye infection so you can contact the doctor immediately.
1. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis occurs when the clear layer that covers your eye and lines your eyelid (the conjunctiva) becomes infected or inflamed. This causes the small blood vessels in the membrane to become more visible, resulting in the whites of your eyes taking on a pink or reddish color.
The infected eye or eyes may also feel itchy or gritty. You may experience more tearing as well as discharge. This discharge turns into a crust overnight and can make it difficult to open the affected eye or eyes in the morning.
Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis has two main causes — a viral infection or bacteria. Most cases are the result of viral infection, specifically of the adenovirus which causes many cold-like symptoms.
2. Keratitis
Inflammation of the cornea, the dome-shaped layer covering the iris and pupil, is known as keratitis. This can cause your cornea to become red and irritated, much like conjunctivitis.
Other symptoms include:
Eye pain
Increased tear production
Discharge from the eye
Difficulty opening your eye due to irritation or pain
Blurry or decreased vision
Sensitivity to light
3. Cellulitis
Cellulitis is an infection within the tissue of your skin. It’s most common in the legs and arms but can also occur around the eyes. While it’s possible for this infection to develop in healthy skin, it usually occurs following a break in the skin, such as a cut or following surgery. Bacteria uses the break in the skin to enter the body and cause an infection.
Hemolytic streptococcus and streptococcus pneumoniae are forms of strep while staphylococcus aureus is a form of staph infection. Both are common culprits for infections around the nose and mouth. However, it’s also possible to get an infection from animal bites and injuries that happen while in water.
Symptoms for cellulitis can vary, but cellulitis around the eye has a few tell-tale signs. This usually includes redness around the eye or in the white of the eye. It’s also common for the eyelid, whites of the eye, and the surrounding area to become swollen. The affected area will also feel tender.
Other symptoms include:
Fever
Chills
Headache
Weakness
Blisters
4. Shingles
Shingles are caused by a viral infection resulting in a painful rash. They’re most prevalent around your torso, but they can also occur around the eye. You should contact your doctor if you think you have shingles, but shingles around the eye can be especially dangerous since it can lead to serious vision problems.
Shingles is a result of having had chickenpox at some point in your life. The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, remains in the body once chickenpox has gone away. The virus lays dormant in some people but can become active again in others, resulting in shingles. This can happen multiple times over a person’s lifetime.
The first symptom of shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is usually pain. This can manifest as a dull throbbing for some, but others may experience a burning or stabbing sensation. The pain from shingles can come and go. A rash in the form of tiny blisters is another common symptom of the infection.
Other symptoms of shingles in or around the eye include:
A burning sensation
Sensitive skin
A red rash
Blisters forming on the upper eyelid
Swelling and redness around the eyelid
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
The eye feeling irritated and itchy
5. Endophthalmitis
An infection of the fluids or tissue inside the eye is known as endophthalmitis. These infections can result in blindness, so it’s important to seek medical treatment immediately in order to preserve your vision.
Endophthalmitis comes in two main forms:
Exogenous endophthalmitis is the more common of the two. In this case, the infection comes from outside the body, usually from a puncture wound. This could be due to fungi or bacteria that get in the eye after surgery, an injection to the eye, or an eye injury. Symptoms usually begin a few days after a surgical procedure or injury.
Quickly developing cases are known as acute endophthalmitis. Symptoms that take longer to develop are known as chronic endophthalmitis. These cases are often caused by specific forms of bacteria and fungi.
Endogenous endophthalmitis is caused by an infection that spreads to the eye from another part of the body. This could be due to a blood or urinary tract infection.
Both types of endophthalmitis have similar symptoms, including:
Eye pain that gets worse after surgery, injection, or injury
Redness in the eye
Discharge from the eye
Eyelids that are puffy or swollen
Blurred, decreased, or lost vision
