Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Prevention
Eye infections happen because of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. They can affect any part of the eye, including the eyelid. An infection can affect one eye at a time or both. It is important to see your primary care provider or eye care provider if you suspect you may have an eye infection.
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Conjunctivitis
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Symptoms
If you have conjunctivitis, your eyes may be:
Causes
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will do an eye exam and ask about the symptoms you have. You may also need a laboratory test such as an eye culture to determine if bacteria or viruses are responsible for the infection. Your practitioner can swab your eye to gather a sample for an eye culture test and send it to the lab.
Treatment
Usually, conjunctivitis goes away on its own within seven to 10 days. However, you may need antibiotic ointment or eye drops for a bacterial infection.
Your treatment options include:
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Keratitis
Keratitisis an infection that causes inflammation in the cornea of the eye. Your cornea is a dome that sits on top of the colored part of your eye and refracts light. If you do not get treatment, there is a risk of permanent scarring and vision loss.
Emily Roberts / Verywell
If you have keratitis, your eyes may be:
If you wear contact lenses, you may be at a higher risk of having keratitis, especially if you sleep, shower, swim, or do not properly clean your lenses or wear them past their change date. Taking proper care of your lenses and supplies is important, so you should follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
Your healthcare provider will do an eye exam and ask about your symptoms. You may need additional lab tests to determine the cause of keratitis.
Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is an infection that causes inflammation or swelling inside the eyeball’s tissues and fluids. This is a serious condition that can be an emergency because of the risk of permanent vision loss.
If you have endophthalmitis, your eyes may be:
Your healthcare provider will do an eye exam and check your symptoms. You will have your vision checked and may need an ultrasound. Your practitioner may also do an aqueous or vitreous tap, which uses a small needle to take fluid from the eye for testing.
Stye
The symptoms of a stye include:
When an oil gland (meibomian gland) in the eyelid is blocked, a stye can form. An infection in the hair follicle of your eye can also cause a stye. Bacteria are another common cause of styes.
Your healthcare provider will do an eye exam and check your symptoms.
Usually, a stye goes away on its own within seven days. Talk to your healthcare provider if your stye is getting worse or not going away.
Cindy Chung / Verywell
Blepharitis
Blepharitisis a condition that causes irritation in the eyelids and causes flakes to form on the eyelashes. Usually, it is not contagious and does not harm the eyes.
If you have blepharitis, your eyes and eyelids may be:
If the oil glands in the eyelids are clogged, this cancause blepharitis. Bacteria on the eyelids and near the base of the eyelashes can also cause this condition.
Cellulitis
Cellulitisis a type of infection that can affect the eye, eyelid, and skin around the eyes. There are two types of cellulitis within the eye: Pre-septal cellulitis and more dangerousorbital cellulitis. Cellulitis can spread, so it is important to seek prompt medical care.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
The symptoms of cellulitis include:
Your healthcare provider will do an eye exam and check your symptoms. You will also have to discuss your recent medical history and have laboratory tests, such as a blood test.
Uveitis
Uveitisis a condition that affects the uvea, the middle layer of your eye. It is an inflammatory disease that can damage the eye’s tissues.
The symptoms of uveitis include:
Autoimmune conditions that can cause uveitis include:
Infectious diseases that can cause uveitis include:
Toxins, injuries, or a corneal ulcer may also causeuveitis.
Your healthcare provider will do an eye exam and check your symptoms. Then, you may need blood tests, laboratory tests, and central nervous system tests. You may also need a brain scan or MRI.
You may need to see a healthcare provider, if you have:
When to Seek Emergency CareIf you have the following symptoms, you should seek emergency care:Bleeding from your eyes or eyelidVision loss or sudden blindnessPupils become different sizes and no longer match each otherProblems opening, closing, or moving the eyesEyes bulge outInjuries or trauma to the eyesDouble visionFlashes and floaters
When to Seek Emergency Care
If you have the following symptoms, you should seek emergency care:Bleeding from your eyes or eyelidVision loss or sudden blindnessPupils become different sizes and no longer match each otherProblems opening, closing, or moving the eyesEyes bulge outInjuries or trauma to the eyesDouble visionFlashes and floaters
If you have the following symptoms, you should seek emergency care:
There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of having an eye infection. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about staying healthy.
To prevent an eye infection, you can:
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Eye infections.National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy contact lens wear and care: germs & infections.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is endophthalmitis?U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Eyelid bump.National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is cellulitis?MedlinePlus.Uveitis.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Eye infections.National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy contact lens wear and care: germs & infections.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is endophthalmitis?U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Eyelid bump.National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is cellulitis?MedlinePlus.Uveitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Eye infections.National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Pink eye.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy contact lens wear and care: germs & infections.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is endophthalmitis?U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Eyelid bump.National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is cellulitis?MedlinePlus.Uveitis.
MedlinePlus.Eye infections.
National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Pink eye.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy contact lens wear and care: germs & infections.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is endophthalmitis?
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Eyelid bump.
National Institutes of Health: National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is cellulitis?
MedlinePlus.Uveitis.
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