10 Eye Infection Symptoms
Infections come in a variety of types. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and they can affect pretty much any part of the body. The eye is no exception, and there are numerous infections that can affect this part of the body. They can be both uncomfortable and unsightly, and they can pose a threat to your eyesight if left untreated.
The good news is that eye infections are usually fairly easy to cure, even if it does take a few days. Eye infections are notoriously contagious, though, so it is important to take precautions to prevent them from being spread.
Here are a few of the symptoms that people with an eye infection can expect to experience.
Symptom #1: Sensitivity to Light
When it is daylight, our irises close up to limit the amount of light that is able to enter into the eye. Alternatively, when it is dark, they will open to allow more light in. This simple system allows us to be able to see in both daytime and when there is limited light available.
The closing of the iris when a lot of light is present helps to protect our eyes from damage. Too much light can be quite uncomfortable and even painful for us. Even otherwise normal levels of light can be uncomfortable for us when we have an eye infection.
Symptom #2: Tearing
Tears are very useful to us, and not just when we are feeling sad. If something was to get caught in our eye then we would begin to produce tears to help to flush out whatever it is. Our eyes will usually be kept moist at all times, but it is not usual for tears to come from the eyes all the time.
One symptom of eye infections is that your infected eye can produce tears all of the time. This is partly because it is being irritated by the infection, while tears can also help to flush pathogens and debris from the eye. Remember that these tears can be very contagious, so you should be careful when coming into contact with other people.
Symptom #3: Something in the Eye
Mostly, our eyelashes and eyelids will help prevent anything from getting into our eyes, but particles can get through sometimes. Even the tiniest of particles can be quite uncomfortable and even painful. Most will come out fairly quickly, however, but that is not always the case.
One symptom of an eye infection is that the patient can feel as though there is something like a speck of dust in the eye. The reality is usually that there is nothing there; the sensation is just a result of the infection. This can also cause the patient to rub their eyes and this can make matters worse.
Symptom #4: Itchy Eyes
Itchy eyes are often a cause of an allergy or some other irritant. The itching causes us to rub our eyes, and this can encourage whatever is bothering us to be flushed from the eye. It doesn’t usually last for too long, but it can last for longer in some cases.
Patients that have an eye infection will sometimes find that their eyes are itching all of the time. This can make matters even worse as it can be very difficult for the patient to resist the temptation to rub their eyes. It is often a good idea to cover the eye to protect it from excessive rubbing.
Symptom #5: Discharge
Asides from the occasional tears, there should be no discharge coming from our eyes, despite them being constantly moist. Problems such as eye infections, however, can cause a considerable amount of discharge to come from the eyes. Such discharge is one of the more visually unpleasant symptoms of having an eye infection.
This discharge will often be in the form of yellow pus. The pus is made up mostly of dead white blood cells and bacteria that have been spent in the battle against the infection. In addition to being unsightly, this pus is also likely to be highly contagious.
Symptom #6: Tender Eyelid
Our eyelids do a very important job. They help to protect our eyes from debris and from excessive light, while they also help to keep the eye moist by lubricating it with fluids every time we blink. Things would get quite uncomfortable without them, and they can sometimes become quite sore themselves.
The eyelids are only very thin layers of skin, and the inner layer, in particular, is very sensitive. In the case of an eye infection, the eyelids can become quite tender. They can be tender to the touch, while they can also be quite uncomfortable even when you are not touching it.
Symptom #7: Burning Sensation in Eyes
Our bodies are quite sensitive to what is around us. This is very important to us because without this sensitivity, we might do ourselves harm without even realizing it. Unfortunately, though, this can lead to some very unpleasant sensations even when we are not directly in harm’s way.
One symptom of an eye infection is that the patient can feel a burning sensation in their eyes. This can make it quite difficult for them to bear the infection but the sensation in itself is usually harmless. A doctor may be able to prescribe something that will help to relieve the discomfort.
Symptom #8: Swollen Eyelids
Our eyelids help to keep our eyes moist, while also protecting them from any particles that might do harm. They are made from fairly thin tissue but this is still usually enough to provide adequate attention. As with other types of tissue, however, the eyelids can become swollen if irritated.
People with an eye infection will often experience swollen eyelids. In addition, they can also become red or even bright purple in color. The symptom is usually quite harmless in itself and will pass once the infection has been cured. It can be irritating, but you should be careful not to scratch or rub your eyelids where possible.
Symptom #9: Crusting
Have you ever woken up in the morning to find that there is a crust on your eyelashes? This is a result of discharge, often tears, that have leaked out from the eyes as you were sleeping. This discharge then dries to form the crust that we find, and it can sometimes bind our eyelashes together, making it difficult for us to open our eyes.
This crusting on the eyelids and eyelashes is a fairly common symptom of eye infections. The crust is easy to wash away with warm water, although it can return again from time to time. The crusting itself is harmless, and the symptom should disappear once the infection has been cured.
Symptom #10: Pink Eye
The white part of our eyes is known as the sclera. This is a fibrous, elastic tissue that helps to keep the rest of the eye safe. It is usually clearly visible around the iris, which is the colored part of the eye in the center. This tissue is itself protected by a thin, transparent membrane known as the conjunctiva.
An eye infection can cause this protective lining to become inflamed, causing it to become red. With the red conjunctive on the white background of the sclera, the eyes will appear pink. This symptom should hopefully clear up once the infection has been cured.
