The 5 most common causes of eye infections

There are various types of eye infections that range from mild to severe, with various causes and treatments. Not all eye infections are life threatening, but some require medical assistance. Although the causes of eye infections are usually bacteria and viruses, there are various things and conditions that can trigger this to happen.

What are the signs and signs if I have an eye infection?

Many people with eye infections experience pain, itching, or the sensation of a foreign object in the eye. The eye can even tear and produce a yellow, green, or even bloody discharge. People sometimes experience sensitivity to light or blurred vision.

If you don't experience pain or other severe symptoms, you will usually be advised to treat it yourself. If you experience vision changes, seek medical help immediately.

A serious complication of eye infections is damage to the retina and the formation of scars on the cornea that can affect vision. Some infections like syphilis can also cause glaucoma. Moreover, eye problems without obvious symptoms can be ignored. For example, chlamydia often doesn't cause early symptoms, but if left untreated it can lead to infertility and heart disease.

What causes eye infection?

1. Irritation and injury

This is a common cause of eye infections. For example, exposure to even a small amount of chemicals can irritate the eyes, making them more sensitive to infection, especially in people who wear contact lenses. Some types of eye infections can develop and damage the eye very quickly.

2. Chlamydia and gonorrhea

Although both are common infectious diseases, chlamydia and gonorrhea can also cause conjunctivitis in adults. A person can get infection through genital fluids directly, such as semen, or when he scratches his eye after touching an infected genital area. Babies with infected mothers are at very high risk of developing eye infections when they are born.

3. Herpes simplex

This common skin disease can infect the eyes in the same way as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Herpes can cause corneal indentation and ulceration, which can destroy retinal tissue and damage vision.

4. Shingles

Shingles is a virus commonly known as the cause of chickenpox, but it can also cause eye infections if you touch your eyes after touching an open wound. Shingles affects the nerves of the eye and can cause swelling, pain, and eye discharge. Shingles is the most common cause of eye infection in people over the age of 50 because it is more common in older people.

5. Bacterial and fungal keratitis

This is a corneal infection caused by common bacteria or fungi that usually live on the skin and in the mouth and nose. These bacteria cannot penetrate the outer layer of the eye in healthy people. However, in people who wear contact lenses or have a weakened immune system, it is easier for bacteria to enter the cornea, the clear layer at the front of the eye.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.