Pain, eye secretions, irritation, blurred vision, dryness, burning… These are some of the most common symptoms we suffer from when we suffer from an eye infection, a very common group of diseases that can lead to serious ailments and even blindness....CONTINUE READING
Apart from, of course, the immune system, the main barrier of human protection against infection is the skin. This tissue prevents pathogens from entering our bodies, so areas not protected by it are more susceptible to infection.
The eyes, therefore, being exposed to the external environment, are an easy access route for pathogens specialised in their infection. In this article we will look at the main infections that can develop in the eyes, as well as the most commonly used treatments and some tips on how to prevent them.
What is an eye infection?
An eye infection is a disease that develops when pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites invade an area of the eyeball or nearby areas. It therefore includes infections of the cornea (transparent part of the eye), conjunctiva (membrane covering the eye), eyelids, retina, etc.
There are many different types of eye infections, so a correct diagnosis is vital in order to subsequently apply the most appropriate treatment. In most cases they are easy to cure; the problem comes in underdeveloped countries, where they do not have access to the necessary therapies.
Although they can affect anyone, they tend to be more common in children or in people with hygiene or health problems, especially if they have a weakened immune system.
What are the main types of eye infections?
Depending on the causative pathogen, there are many types of eye infections, with the severity depending on the development of the disease and the symptoms or complications that may result.
Here are some of the most common eye infections.
1. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a bacterial or viral infection of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering the eyelid and cornea. The characteristic redness of the eye is due to the fact that the immune system’s response to the infection causes the blood vessels in the conjunctiva to swell and become more visible.
Although the symptoms of pain, swelling and tearing can be very uncomfortable, conjunctivitis rarely affects vision. It is a highly contagious disease and can basically be of two types:
Bacterial conjunctivitis:
This is the most common type of conjunctivitis. It is highly contagious, especially in hot periods of the year. Its main characteristic is that the eye turns red and a mucous discharge is produced in the lower part of the eye. It starts in one eye but usually spreads rapidly to the other eye.
Viral conjunctivitis:
This is the most dangerous type of conjunctivitis because, in addition to being untreatable with antibiotics, it has associated symptoms including general malaise, sore throat and fever, which is not the case with bacterial conjunctivitis.
It is highly contagious because the person can transmit it when they do not yet have symptoms. In this case, the eye becomes more pinkish in colour.
2. Keratitis
Keratitis is an infection of the cornea, the transparent tissue in front of the iris. If left untreated, keratitis can be a serious infection that can lead to complications and permanent damage to vision.
Keratitis causes symptoms similar to conjunctivitis, as well as sensitivity to light, reduced vision, a foreign body sensation in the eye and difficulty opening the eyes due to pain.
Depending on the causative pathogen, there are different types of keratitis:
Bacterial keratitis:
This type of keratitis is caused by many different species of bacteria, especially of the “Staphylococcus” and “Pseudomonas” genera, which manage to penetrate the cornea after an injury to the cornea or due to a lack of personal hygiene. It can be serious and, if left untreated, may lead to blindness if it spreads to other tissues.
Viral keratitis:
The Herpes Simplex Virus can cause an infection of the cornea with the aforementioned symptoms. It can be more serious as antibiotic treatment does not work.
Fungal keratitis:
Fungal keratitis develops when some species of fungi infect the cornea. Generally caused by the genus “Fusarium”, these fungal infections usually occur when we have injured the cornea and they have a free path to enter.
Acanthamoeba keratitis:
Acanthamoeba is a parasite that can infect the cornea, especially in contact lens wearers. This is why safety precautions must be followed, as this parasite can take advantage of poor hygiene conditions in contact lenses to reach the cornea and cause corneal infection.
3. Stye
A stye is an infection of the edge of the lower eyelid that is detected by the presence of a red lump with pus and painful symptoms. They usually disappear without treatment within a few days, although the pain can be relieved with antibiotic ointments.
This disease occurs when bacteria of the staphylococcus group infect the sebaceous glands of the eyelid.
4. Trachoma
Trachoma is an eye disease that represents the leading cause of blindness in the world: almost 2 million people suffer from visual impairment due to this infection.
Responsible for irreversible damage, the bacterium “Chlamydia trachomatis” causes a highly contagious eye disease, especially in Third World countries where it is endemic.
It initially causes irritation of the eyes and eyelids, later leading to swelling of the eyelids and drainage of pus from the eyes. Recurrent infections with this bacterium can lead to vision loss and even blindness.
5. Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is an internal infection of the eyeball. While the previous ones were infections of the external parts of the eye, this disease occurs inside the eye, so without proper treatment, the consequences can be serious.
It usually occurs when there is a penetrating eye injury, such as cataract surgery. The open wound can lead to infection by various species of bacteria, which will require treatment with antibiotics.
Although rare, infection of the eyeball can also be caused by fungi, usually in tropical countries. This type of infection is even more serious than bacterial infection.
6. Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an infection of the upper eyelid where the eyelashes grow. The sebaceous glands are infected by various pathogens (usually bacteria) that cause a disease that is not easy to treat.
It is usually a chronic problem that, although it is not very contagious and does not cause permanent damage to vision, it is annoying and unsightly, as the eyelids take on a greasy appearance and the eyelashes grow abnormally.
7. Retinitis
Retinitis is an infection of the retina, which is the cloth-like inner surface of the eye where images are projected. It is usually caused by Cytomegalovirus, which develops a viral infection that can be severe.
The disease begins with spots in the field of vision and blurred vision. Vision loss begins at the sides and eventually develops into central vision loss.
Without proper treatment and immune system response, the virus eventually destroys the retina and damages the optic nerve.
8. Toxoplasmosis
Ocular toxoplasmosis is a disease of the retina caused by the infection and replication of a parasite: “Toxoplasma gondii”. The infection can be caused by the consumption of water or food containing eggs of the parasite, which, after being ingested, circulate through the body until they reach the retina.
It causes retinitis, which can also be serious, especially due to hypersensitivity reactions of our immune system to the presence of the parasite.
9. Dacryocystitis
Dacryocystitis is an infection of the lacrimal sac, the area responsible for producing tears inside the eyeball and allowing them to drain. It is an acute or chronic infection that does not usually spread to both eyes, but is localised in one eye.
It is usually caused by bacteria and particularly affects newborns and women over the age of 50. The main cause is obstruction of the lacrimal sac, which favours the development and growth of pathogenic bacteria in the lacrimal sac.
10. Ophthalmia of the newborn
Newborn ophthalmia refers to all those eye diseases that develop in a newborn baby. In other words, it includes all the pathologies we have seen, taking into account that their severity is much greater as the newborn’s immune system is not fully developed.
The infection can occur for different reasons, although it is generally because the child’s tear duct is obstructed or because the mother, despite not showing symptoms, has infected the child with one of the pathogens during or after childbirth.
Treatment of eye infections
Eye infections, despite the potential danger of their symptoms, are usually relatively easy to treat if the means are available.
Many of them are self-limiting, i.e. the body will eventually heal itself. If the immune system cannot or if you want to speed up the process, there are treatments available.
In the case of bacterial infections, it is usually sufficient to apply eye drops containing antibiotics, which must be prescribed by a doctor.
For viral infections, it is necessary to wait for the body to fight them off by applying creams and compresses. For fungal infections, there are also antifungal drugs that eliminate them.
Preventing eye infections
Since the symptoms can be very uncomfortable and some of the infections are difficult to treat, it is best to prevent the development of these diseases.
The best measures to do this are as follows:
Do not touch your eyes with dirty hands;
Avoid contact with infected people;
Proper personal hygiene measures;
If you wear contact lenses, follow the instructions for use;
Avoid bathing in dirty water..<<CONTINUE READING>>