People always say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. This expression or saying is based on facts that we can determine the true intentions of a person by looking at their eyes. This is also true in distinguishing whether or not a person has developed certain eye disorders or infections.
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These eye infections might be understated, but they are dropdead serious. So, if you have experienced or if you have been experiencing any of these, it is best to have yourself checked as soon as possible.
What are eye infections?
Literally coined from the term, eye infections happen when harmful microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, and fungi invade a portion of our eyes.
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The most common eye infection is the infectious conjunctivitis or more commonly referred to as the pinkeye. This condition will make our eyeballs look like they are swollen or inflamed as a result of blood vessels around the eyeball being invaded by a virus or a harmful bacteria.
Other than the pinkeye, there are other eye infections you should be wary of. These infections might seem or look harmless but in reality, they could really take a toll on your daily lives.
Some of the eye infections most experienced by people are:
Endophthalmitis
This condition is an infection that is experienced in the interior of the eye. Endophthalmitis causes redness or inflammation in the whites part of the eyes of the infected.
Endophthalmitis is considered as a red flag or an emergency case and thus, it should require immediate attention and surgery; as per the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Blepharitis
Unlike the Endophthalmitis, the Blepharitis is an infection of the eyelid; it does not touch the eye/s itself.
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This condition can be and is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Individuals who experience this does not negatively affect their vision. However, it can be quite uncomfortable and can be a nuisance to the daily routine of people.
Iritis
Iritis is almost the same looking as the pinkeye. However, Iritis affects the iris of our eye. This condition refers to the inflammation of the iris or colored part of your eye.
Keratitis
Last but definitely not the least, the Keratitis is known to be the infection of the cornea.
The cornea is the part of the eye that covers both your pupil and iris; it serves as the safeguard or the first (1st) line of defense of the two.
Infectious keratitis is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. If it does not get treated immediately, it can appear the worst. It is treatable but it can cause permanent vision impairment if left untreated as it clouds the cornea.
So, here are some of the unobvious signs that you might be experiencing an eye infection.
Eye discharge
It is common to spot eye infections because most of them lets our eyes excrete dirt from our eyes. No, it is not normal for our eyes to release dirt—except of course if you’ve just woken up.
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Itching or burning sensation
Obviously, if you experience either itching or burning in your eyes, chances are, you have an eye infection.
Being light sensitive
It is downright normal for people to be overly-sensitive of high-frequency light. However, sensitivity to low or dimmed light is not normal. This, in fact, is a clear indication that you have an eye infection.
Dry and watery eyes
Genetically, some people have watery and/or dry eyes. But if you are not part of that demographic, then having dry eyes is an indication that you might be infected by any of the eye infections known to man.
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Redness/Swelling
The most common sign or projection that eye infection is present is the display of redness or swelling of the eyes.
How are people affected by these eye infections?
We will be dividing this part into two (2) categories: the normal people without eye conditions and people who wear eye glasses and/or contact lenses.
Normal people without eye problems or conditions
Believe it or not, normal people who have no eye conditions are the least susceptible by these eye infections.
However, people with lower or weaker immune systems are the most susceptible in being infected by viruses, fungi, or harmful bacteria.
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In this regard, it is imperative to have proper hygiene in maintaining health of the whole body, not just the face.
Smokers, according to research, are at the most risk in developing eye infections. This is because of the ash that is excreted by the cigarette.
People who use eye glasses and/or contact lenses
People who choose to wear contact lenses than regular eye glasses are at more risk in developing an infection or a condition. Why? Because wearing contact lenses would require an individual to touch and meddle with the eyeball more than those who utilize regular eye glasses.
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However, proper care and hygiene even if you wear contact lenses can do the work. Always make sure to have a schedule to wash your contact lenses.
NOTE: People who experienced any type of eye injury in the past are at more risk of experiencing or developing eye infections. This is because the eye has already been damaged and thus, it has weaker resistance to viruses and other harmful microorganisms.
How do you treat eye infections?
Although most eye infections seem easy to cure, home remedies might just cause a bigger problem. The eye infections we mentioned above are just the most common; there are far more dangerous and more complicated infections out there.
Should the infection appear not that serious, you can try home remedies like washing it with clean water, eye drops, and the like. However, if you think that your infection would require medication, consult the nearest doctor or opthalmologist for them to prescribe the best medicine depending on your condition.
Eye infections are serious, they’re not just a walk in the park. Regardless of the severity you feel towards your eye infection, it is always best to prevent it than to cure it.
Regularly ensure that your overall body gets the right hygiene so you won’t have to be bothered to have it cured anymore.
