![]() If left untreated, a corneal ulcer can lead to severe vision loss. Infection can be an underlying cause of a corneal ulcer, which resembles an abscess on the eye. Infection can also lead to inflammation and blockage of the eye's tear drainage system and cause dacryocystitis. When an infection moves to the eye's tear glands, inflammatory conditions such as dacryostenosis and uveitis can occur. Some eye infections can lead to further complications, especially when they're left untreated. SEE RELATED: Other types of keratitis Possible complications Most of these cases are reported in tropical regions. Whenever an eye injury penetrates the eyeball, there is a 4% to 8% risk of endophthalmitis. This type of infection can happen after a serious eye injury or as a rare complication of an eye surgery, such as cataract surgery. When an eye infection penetrates the inside of the eye, as with bacterial endophthalmitis, blindness can occur without immediate treatment - which usually includes strong antibiotics. Good hygiene and the availability of medical treatment like oral antibiotics are essential to controlling trachoma. Scarring then causes an "in-turning" of the eyelid, and eyelashes begin to brush against - and destroy - tissue on the cornea, resulting in permanent blindness. Trachoma usually infects the inner eyelid, which starts to scar. Flies can spread the infection in certain environments, and reinfection is a common problem. While uncommon in the United States, the eye infection known as trachoma is so widespread in some underdeveloped regions that it's a leading cause of blindness. Proper contact lens care must be followed to minimize the risk of all types of infection.įDA guidelines recommend that manufacturers include a discard date (not just a date of expiration) on contact lens cleaning and disinfecting products to help minimize the risk of an eye infection. This is why contact lens wearers should observe certain safety tips, like avoiding swimming while wearing contacts. Acanthamoeba keratitisĬontact lens wearers are at increased risk of encountering parasites that can invade the eye and cause a serious sight-threatening infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This and other fungi can invade the eye in other ways, such as a penetrating injury caused by a tree branch. The outbreak was associated with the fungi Fusarium, often found in organic matter. Fungal keratitisįungal keratitis is a fungal eye infection made worldwide news in 2006 when a contact lens solution was linked to an outbreak among contact lens wearers. However, unlike a stye, a chalazion is painless, is not a bacterial infection, and usually occurs further away from the edge of the eyelid. In less common situations, they can require medical attention.Ī chalazion and a stye are easy to confuse. Most styes can be treated using basic home remedies. Styes happen when something blocks an eyelid oil gland, leading to a small, but uncomfortable, bacterial infection. StyeĪ stye is a common infection that causes a tender, red bump on the edge of the eyelid. ![]() Infants can acquire conjunctival eye infections (gonococcal and chlamydial conjunctivitis) during birth when a mother has a sexually transmitted disease.īesides common pink eye, other viral eye infections include ocular herpes, which occurs with exposure to the Herpes simplex virus. Infectious conjunctivitis types are often viral or bacterial. Teachers and day care workers have an increased risk of pink eye when they work in close quarters with young children. Pink eye is a very contagious eye infection often spread among children in day care centers, classrooms and similar environments. One of the most common types of eye infection is conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye. If you experience eye infection symptoms and wear contact lenses, take your contacts out and wear eyeglasses until a doctor can diagnose your condition. Trying to self-diagnose your condition can delay treatment and, in rare cases, even threaten your vision. The symptoms of an eye infection depend on the underlying cause and can include:Īnytime you suspect an eye infection, you should always visit an eye doctor. Less commonly, an eye infection can be very serious and require immediate medical attention. ![]() Many eye infections go away on their own or with simple treatment. ![]() This includes the clear front surface of the eye ( cornea) and the thin, moist membrane lining the outer eye and inner eyelids (conjunctiva). An eye infection can happen when bacteria, viruses or fungi invade part of the eye or its surrounding area. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |