Eye infections are a terrible thing to have to deal with. Not only are they really irritating, but they can also affect your vision. Though there are several types of eye infections, the following is a guide to some of the most common ones. We at AssureVision serving Arlington Heights, IL, and Barrington, IL, with our optometrist, know a lot about eye infections.
Pink Eye
Pink eye or conjunctivitis is a common eye condition. It’s usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, but it can also come from chemical exposure and allergies. Many people develop pink eye after swimming in chlorinated pools.
Pink eye causes swelling and itchiness along with red eyes and watery discharge. Treatment depends on the cause. There are prescriptions to fight bacterial infections. Pink eye caused by allergies can typically be treated with antihistamines and eye drops. If it’s due to a viral infection, though, you usually must wait it out while applying warm compresses.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an eye infection of the eye lid that usually occurs when your eyelid’s oil glands are clogged. It causes itchy, red, watery eyes that are typically crusty. In some cases, it’s severe enough that it might be difficult to open your eyes in the morning.
Warm compresses and eyelid massages can help. Our optometrist may also prescribe ointments and eye drops to help.
Keratitis
Keratitis is a condition in which the cornea becomes inflamed, usually due to a virus, fungus, bacteria, or even a parasite. Sometimes, it’s the result of an eye injury. It causes pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, redness, swelling, and more. Like pink eye, treatment depends on the cause of the infection.
Stye
A stye is another very common cause of eye infections. This infection looks like a pimple on the eye and leads to a great deal of pain and discomfort. It causes itchiness, swelling, watery eyes, and crusting around the eyelids.
If you have a stye, you can keep your infected eyelid clean with mild soap and apply a warm compress. You may want to avoid makeup and cosmetics while you’re infected. Our optometrist may also prescribe antibiotics to fight infection.
Treat Eye Infections with Our Optometrist
If you’re experiencing any of the eye infections listed above or have similar symptoms, schedule an appointment with our team at AssureVision. You can reach our Arlington Heights, IL, location at (847) 368-9999, or our Barrington location, IL, at (224) 407-2020. Our optometrist is here to help with eye infections.
