Eye Infections
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Eye Infections
Ophthalmologists and optometrists are trained to recognize various eye infections by the appearance of the surface of the eye and the retina, the progress of the disease, whether it's in one eye or both, and your medical history. There's a wide range of lighted devices for looking at the cornea and retina.
If there's pus or discharge from the eye, it can be cultured to identify the organism. Quite possibly, you'll also be tested for common diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes simplex.
You should see your doctor or eye care professional if you have:
- eye pain, altered vision, severe redness of the eye, or continuous discharge from the eye
- recurring eye problems
- eye problems along with a chronic condition such as diabetes
- changes in pupil size
- recent injury to the eye
- sensitivity to light
You should also see your doctor or eye care professional if:
- you have been treating symptoms yourself for 48 hours and no improvement is noted
- the condition worsens with treatment
- the condition has lasted longer than 48 hours without treatment
Treating and Preventing Eye Infections
Viral conjunctivitis usually improves in a few days without treatment. Broad-spectrum antibiotic eye drops will deal with most cases of bacterial conjunctivitis or keratitis, while particular antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea and chlamydia. Many of these diseases can be cured.
Most fungal and parasitic infections are also treatable by various medications. The exception is histoplasma, which can't even be detected in the retina, though we know it's there. The only current treatment is laser cauterization of the affected area, which dramatically slows the destruction of the macula (the centre of the retina). This operation is done in hopes of saving the existing vision, though in some cases it may cause some vision loss of its own. It often has to be repeated several times. There's still no way to repair the damage already done, though new surgical techniques are under study.
Herpes simplex can't be eradicated from the body, but flare-ups in the eye can often be fought off with topical (surface-applied) or oral (taken by mouth) antiviral medications. Corneal transplant may be necessary if there is severe scarring or vision loss from the infection. Serious diseases like tuberculosis, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis need to be treated for the body as a whole before eye problems will clear up.
There's not much you can do to avoid a disease like histoplasmosis, unless you avoid endemic areas (areas where the fungus is found, such as river valleys). If you're in those areas and have a weakened immune system, you should avoid doing activities that are known to be associated with histoplasmosis, such as exploring caves, cleaning or tearing down old buildings, or digging in soil where there could be bird or bat droppings. You'll also notice that a great many eye infections are actually complications of sexually transmitted or genital diseases such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, crab lice, herpes simplex, thrush, and hepatitis B. If you have herpes simplex, avoid touching your eyes if you have an active cold sore or blister.
Hand-washing is extremely important in preventing the spread of organisms that can cause infection. Sharing of towels, pillow cases, wash clothes, and makeup should always be avoided to prevent spread of an eye infection.
You can cut your risk of eye infection by observing safe sexual practices. That means using condoms, and, ideally, limiting your number of sexual partners. It's also important to get checked for STIs regularly, since many of these diseases can go unnoticed until damage has been done, and you can infect other people. If you do have one of these diseases, keep your hands clean and away from your eyes.
The same is true of cold sores, shingles, chickenpox, measles, mumps, flu, and the common cold. All of these diseases produce spots, rashes, or mucus that carry the organism. Wash your hands frequently and don't touch your eyes. Watch children carefully and never let them wipe their nose with an upward stroke of the hand.
If you or a member of your family has an eye infection you should use separate linens and a fresh facecloth and towel for each cleaning. Cosmetics may be a source of recurrent infection, so avoid them if possible if you have eye problems. Be sure to clean the eye area, especially before applying any medication and when there is any type of discharge from the eye.
If you wear contact lenses, follow proper lens care guidelines, as recommended by your eye doctor and the manufacturer's instructions. Be sure to wash your hands before putting them in.
Watch for tree branches and twigs when walking in the woods. Getting scratched on the eye by organic matter is another way of getting a fungal eye infection.
Finally, avoid excessive sun exposure by wearing sunglasses, as this can weaken the protective layer of the eye.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Eye-Infections
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