Eye infections take place when bacteria, virus or fungi infect your eyes, resulting in inflammation.

Types of eye infections
There are many reasons for one’s eyes to become infected. Some of the conditions are:

• Conjunctivitis
  This refers to the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that covers the sclera, as well as the inner portion of the eyelids. It is also called pink eye as it is characterized by redness of the eye, pain, purulent discharge, and watering.
• Keratitis
  This is caused due to inflammation of the cornea, the outermost layer of the eye. There are two types of keratitis: infectious keratitis and non-infectious keratitis. While infectious keratitis is caused by infection with microorganisms, non-infectious keratitis is caused due to trauma to the eye, a foreign body in the eye, or contact lenses, which may cause injury and irritation.
• Uveitis
  This eye infection leads to inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea. The redness of the eye associated with this condition can also be caused by certain inflammatory diseases which damage the uvea along with the optic nerve and vitreous cavity. This may even lead to blindness if left untreated.
• Endophthalmitis
  This is a rare, post-operative eye condition. This occurs after cataract surgery when the anterior and posterior segments of the eye are inflamed after intraocular lens implantation. The symptoms may show up within one week of the surgery which includes redness of the eyes, pain, discharge, and blurriness. This has to be treated promptly or it could result in permanent loss of vision.

Symptoms of eye infections

• Redness of the eyes.
• Pain
• Itching
• Constant tearing
• Purulent discharge
• Blurriness

Treatment
Usually, eye drops are prescribed by the doctor for eye infections . Some of them include:

• Patanol ophthalmic drops
  These are used to treat redness, blurring, itchiness, and watering of the eyes due to allergic reactions.
• Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic drops
  These are used to treat eye infections caused by bacteria since they contain antibiotics.
• Opticrom ophthalmic drops
  They are used to treat vernal conjunctivitis and keratitis.
• Phenylephrine ophthalmic drops
  This can be used to treat uveitis.

In case of trauma or injury to the eye, cold compresses bring down the swelling to a great extent.

Prevention
Eye infections can spread from one person to another very easily. Some of the common methods to prevent eye infections are:

• Stay away from a person who has an eye infection. Additionally, avoid sharing belongings like towels, soaps, and bathtubs.
• One needs to be mindful of keeping their hands away from the eyes to prevent infection. One can easily contract the infection by rubbing the eyes with the fingers that may contain the microorganisms.
• Always practice good hygiene when wearing contact lenses by washing the hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Removing contact lenses before going to bed helps prevent irritation of the eye.
• Avoid trauma to the eye as injury may cause inflammation and may also result in blindness. Protective eyewear during sports activities sports and yard work prevents injury to the eye.