Should I Go to the Eye Doctor for an Eye Infection?

Eye infections are fairly common. They can result from getting a chemical in your eye, an eye injury, or even a scratch on your cornea. And they can wreak havoc, comfort-wise, for contact lens wearers to the point where it’s time to switch to glasses. 

While an eye infection may resolve on its own, it can also spread to other parts of the eye and may even start to compromise your vision. In this post, a Oxnard, CA optometrist talks about signs to watch for and the importance of seeking treatment when an infection in the eye won’t go away. 

Signs of Eye Infection

Infections can develop in the eye, much like in any other part of the body. If bacteria, fungi, or viruses invade a part of the eye or even the surrounding area, an infection may grow. Many eye infections eventually resolve with treatment, though some types of infection can become quite serious and require medical attention.

Symptoms of eye infection can vary depending on the underlying cause. Here are a few signs of eye infection to watch for:

• Eyes look swollen or swelling around the eyes
• Pain in or around the eyes
• Eyes feel dry
• Redness 
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Watery eyes
• Itchiness
• Eye discharge

Types of Eye Infections

• Pink eye
• Fungal keratitis (common for contact lens wearers)
• Stye
• Endophthalmitis
• Acanthamoeba keratitis (also common for contact lens wearers)

Harmful Effects of Eye Infection

When left untreated, an eye infection can move to the tear glands, causing inflammation. This can result in blocked tear ducts and uveitis, which affects the middle layer of the eye. Infection can also spread to the soft tissues of the eyelids. Since infection in the eyelids can spread very quickly, seeking immediate medical attention is highly recommended.

Over time, serious infections can move to even deeper layers within the eye, at which point the real risk of experiencing noticeable vision loss increases considerably.

Eye Infection Treatment

Treatment for eye infection requires your eye doctor to first determine what type of infection you have. There are antibiotics that target specific bacterial infections while virus-based conditions can vary in severity, so treatment will depend on how bad the infection is.

Other treatments commonly used include:

• Prescription cremes
• Eye compresses
• Prescription eye drops
• Steroid-based treatments

If you have more questions or suspect you may have an eye infection, please don’t hesitate to call our Oxnard, CA optometry office today.