If you have some kind of swelling, itching, slight pain, or redness in your eyes, chances are that you have an eye infection.

There are mainly three causes of eye infection. Viral eye infection, bacterial eye infection, and fungal eye infection. And every type of eye infection has a different treatment.

Although, it’s not difficult to spot these infections, and it’s better that you consult a doctor for eye infections treatment.

So, here are some of the most common eye infections with their causes.

Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye

On top of this list is one of the most common eye infections, conjunctivitis or pink eye (as many people call it). Conjunctiva is the thin membrane that surrounds the eyeball. It is also the outermost member.

Bacteria or some virus can cause an infection in the blood vessels in this membrane. Once infected, your eyes turn pink or red. Swelling can also occur during this infection. This infection can also occur if exposed to certain chemicals like chlorine, or due to some allergies.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be very contagious and can last up to 3 weeks.

You should immediately visit a doctor if you see the symptoms like:

• Red or pink eyes
• Thick water running from your eyes, especially when you wake up
• Itching in the eyes
• More tears than any other day.

Keratitis

Keratitis is related to cornea infection. The cornea covers the pupil and iris of your eyes. Keratitis can result due to an eye injury or an infection. Infection can be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic. It is basically the swelling in the cornea.

Some of the symptoms of keratitis are:

• Swollen eye with a reddish tint
• Discomfort in the eye (you may also suffer from some pain)
• More tears than usual
• Problems during the opening and closing of your eyelids
• Blurry vision
• Sensitivity to the light
• Feeling like something is stuck in the eye.

You can suffer from keratitis if you wear contact lenses, or you have some other condition or illness that is making your immune system weak.

There can be some more causes like living at a place that is humid and warm, and if you already have an injured eye.

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis can occur due to a fungal or bacterial infection. The inside of your eye will suffer acute inflammation. One of the top causes of this condition is Candida fungal infections.

If you have had eye surgeries like cataract surgery, there are chances that you may suffer from this condition. Although it’s not very common, there are chances.

Some of the common symptoms you have to watch out for are:

• Pain in your eye (mild to acute)
• Vision loss (can be partial or complete)
• Blurry vision
• Swollen eyelids and area around it
• Eye pus
• Bright lights sensitivity

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a condition in which your eyelids and the skin folds that cover your eyes are swollen. When the oil glands present in the eyelid skin are clogged, it results in blepharitis. This condition is mainly caused by bacteria.

The symptoms of this condition are:

• The itchiness, swelling, and redness in the eye or eyelid
• Oily eyelid
• A burning feeling in the eyes
• Feeling as if something is stuck in the eyes
• Light sensitiveness
• Production of more tears than any other day
• Irritation on the eyelashes

If you have eyebrows or scalp dandruff, you can suffer from this condition. Some people can also develop blepharitis if they are allergic to the eye or face makeup. One more reason for this condition can be, oil glands not working properly.

You should never ignore the symptoms of these infections and immediately consult a doctor.

Although, eye infections may go away in a few days on their own. But, if you feel some acute symptoms, you should rush for medical attention immediately.

You can even choose online medical clinics to get some assistance in case of an emergency. It’s better to treat the infection in the start only rather than facing the complications later on.