Eye Infections: What Should You Do About Them?

Germs are gross. They are microscopic, invade our bodies and make a comfortable stay there for themselves. And the worst thing: They are all over the place.

These germs are the reason behind a number of diseases including pneumonia and food poisoning. But, they can travel to your eyes and cause infections, bacterial blepharitis, conjunctivitis or pink eyes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made most people super conscious about personal hygiene. Health professionals are urging people not to touch their eyes with contaminated hands to avoid the risk of virus transmission through the eyes.

Types of eye infections

While you can do your best to avoid contact with germs, one uncovered sneeze from an infected person and all your efforts will go to waste. We are not only talking about the ongoing pandemic, you must protect your eyes from germs attacks whether it is a flu season or not.

However, if you leave your eyes unprotected, you might have to face the following eye infections.

Conjunctivitis or pink eye

It is referred to as the inflammation of the thin membrane on the inner layer of the eyelid called ‘conjunctiva’. It is usually characterised by the redness of the eye along with an itchy sensation. The infected eye may also present with discharge that forms a thick crust on the eyelashes.

Fungal keratitis

It is the infection of the cornea which is the thin fluid layer on the front of your eye. It is commonly caused by fungi such as fusarium that penetrates the eye through an ocular injury.

Acanthamoeba keratitis

People who wear contact lens are at a higher risk of contracting this parasitic infection that may even cause permanent vision loss or blindness.

Endophthalmitis

When the infectant goes deep in the eye, it causes inflammation of the internal eye tissues. If the person is not given immediate medical treatment, it may even result in blindness.

Blepharitis

When the oil glands inside your eyelids clog, it leads to the inflammation of the eyelids known as blepharitis. You may also develop this infection in case you are allergic to eye makeup.

Ways to protect eye infections

Keeping germs away is difficult but it’s certainly not impossible. Here are the tips to avoid eye infections

Don’t touch your eyes

This is an unconscious habit that we all have. Whether something gets in your eye or your peepers start to hurt from all that computer work, it seems like rubbing them will bring some relief.

However, it only gives easy access to the germs to move from our hands to the eyes. So you better try to keep those hands away from the delicate eyes. And as for the visual discomforts from digital work, you can always use the right pair of blue light glasses. They will filter out the blue waves, the main reason behind digital eye strain.

Wash your hands clean

Get yourself in the habit of cleaning your hands before you take them anywhere near to your eye. It is the easiest and the most effective way to prevent eye infections. Lather up with soap and wash your hands thoroughly and correctly for about 20 seconds to get them germ-free.

Move from contacts to glasses

The process of putting on contact lenses is the closest your fingers get to your eyes. So if you wear contacts, make a switch to glasses and bring down your risk of eye infections.

Spectacles are comfortable to wear and shield your eyes from air pollutants. So why not buy glasses and give the best protection to your eyes?

Do not share your eye makeup

We know that sharing is caring but let’s draw the line at sharing eye cosmetics, skincare products or even the makeup brushes.

Make sure you clean your brushes every once a week if you are an avid makeup user. Also, throw your cosmetics away soon as they complete their shelf life.

Clean your glasses & sunglasses

Though these accessories never have a direct contact with your eyes, keeping them clean and free of germs. You can either use the lens cleaning wipes or wash them with lotion-free soap and pat them dry with a lint-free cloth.

Treatments for eye infections

Many common ocular infections resolve on their own with proper care, antibiotics, ointments or eye drops. If you have contracted a severe type of viral infections, you will need to take antiviral drugs as prescribed by the doctor.

You first need to get an eye test to know the underlying cause behind the infection. Based on the test and your symptoms, your eye doctor will recommend antibiotics or antiviral medications. They will fill you in on the administration of these medications and you should also follow their direction.

The final word

The symptoms of eye infections are unpleasant, painful and could easily turn into something severe. While you can get away from them by proper medical attention and the use of medications, prevention is always better than cure.

Make use of the preventive measures and keep germs as far as possible from your eyes. The early you treat the infection, the less risk of complications you have.