Signs and Symptoms That Indicate An Eye Infection
Look for the following signs
- Discharge
- Thick, crusty yellow or green - most likely indicates a bacterial infection
- Watery - most likely indicates a viral infection
- Red eye (s)
- Swollen eye lid(s)
- White or Grey spot on the cornea
- Pain that persists after contact lens removal
And the following symptoms
- Sore or painful eye(s)
- Red eye(s)
- Sensation of something in your eye(s)
- Light sensitivity (photophobia)
- Excessive tearing
- Itchy or burning sensation
- Burred or reduced vision
It is very unlikely you will experience all of these signs symptoms at once, different eye infections will present with different signs and symptoms, but the common ones to look for are
- Redness
- Discharge (crusty eye lid(s)
- Swollen eyelid(s)
- Excessive tearing
The ability to spot the early onset of eye infection for contact lens wearers is particularly useful as it can aid quicker healing time and reduce the amount of days you need to be contact lens free. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly one third of contact lens wearers will visit their optometrist with a red or painful eye related to contact lens wear at some point.
Should I go to my Doctors or Optometrist with an eye infection?
The following signs and symptoms are Red flags and indicate you should seek urgent eye attention 🚨, this can be from your optometrist, Doctor, or casualty department
- Vision loss
- Redness that gets rapidly worse
- Moderate to severe pain
- Heavy or dense discharge
- White spots on the cornea
- Light sensitivity
- Symptoms not improving within 24 hours
If you are a contact lens wearer be aware of these extra signs and symptoms
- Pain that persists after lens removal
- Increasing light sensitivity
- Reduced vision
- Visible spot(s) on the cornea
If in doubt, take your lenses out, reassess the level of pain, signs and symptoms, it they don't abate then seek medical attention from your Optometrist, Doctor or casualty department.
What causes an Eye Infections?
- Microorganisms (germs)
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Parasites
- Poor Contact Lens hygiene
- Poor cleaning or disinfecting contact lens cases
- Exposing contact lenses to water
- Sleeping in contact lenses
- Handling Contact Lenses with Unclean hands
Whether a contact lens wear or not, touching your eyes with unclean hands can transfer bacteria,viruses, pollutants etc - Eye injury or Trauma
Even minor scratches can break the protective surface of the eye, allowing microorganisms to enter and cause infections - Weakened immune system
A compromised immune system, whether due to, illness, medication, diabetes etc can make you more susceptible to infections, including eye infections - Environmental factors
Exposing your eyes to contaminated water, dust. smoke, animal dander etc can introduce irritants and pathogens that can contribute toan eye infection
*Conjunctivitis is a major cause of eye irritation, however not all of them are infections. There are three key types of conjunctivitis, each with different causative factors
- Infectious Conjunctivitis
Cause - viruses or bacteria - Irritant conjunctivitis
Cause - irritants such as shampoo, shower gel, eyelashes, smoke etc - Allergic conjunctivitis
Cause - allergic response to animals, pollen, dust mites etc
How long does an Eye Infection last?
This will depend on the cause of the eye infection. The sooner you get yours eyes checked and the reason for the eye infection is discovered the quicker treatment can commence.
If its a
- Bacterial conjunctivitis,- expect it to take up to 7-10 days to clear if untreated, but you should see improvements within 2-5 days of commencing antibiotics.
- Viral eye infection - expect it to take 7-14 days to clear up - unfortunately antibiotics won't help to speed up the recovery time.
- Fungal Infection - expect it to last weeks or even months - this will require prolonged medical intervention and treatment.
- Contact lens induced corneal infection - may take several days to weeks for recovery, depending on its severity. This requires urgent medical treatment
Will an Eye Infection go away on its own?
Sometimes, but not always it will depend on what caused the infection.
- Viral Conjunctivitis - Often clears without treatment in 7-10 days
- Mild Bacterial Conjunctivitis - May clear up on its own in 7-0 days, but Antibiotics can shorten this to 3-7 days
- Contact Lens Related Infections - Can worsen quickly,always seek medical attention
- Corneal Infections - Rarely self improve, seek medical attention
- Severe infections - causing eye pain, light sensitivity, Blurred or reduced vision a white or grey spot on the cornea, symptoms worsening after 24-48 hours - Seek urgent medical hep
- If you wear contact lenses and it appears if you have the symptoms listed above - remove them immediately.
- A painful or light sensitive eye should NOT be ignored, seek medical advice.
Common eye Infections
Infectious conjunctivitis (Pink Eye):
The type of bacteria that causes this includes Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Bacterial conjunctivitis:
May cause you to experience a burning sensation or feel like there is grit in your eye, and you might have a swollen lymph node just behind your ear.
Allergic conjunctivitis:
You may find your eyes become itchy, and if it’s triggered by eye drops, your eyelids may become sore and dry.
if you notice small spots developing on the inside of your eyelids, you might be allergic to your contact lenses.
How to Avoid an Eye Infection whilst Wearing Contact Lenses?
- Practice excellent contact lens hygiene
- Wash and dry hands before handling lenses
- Rub and rinse lenses (even with “no-rub” solutions)
- Never top off solution — always use fresh solution
- Clean, air-dry, and replace the lens case every 1–3 months
- Avoid wearing lenses overnight
- Maintain healthy eyelids - always treat blephritis
- Don't allow your contact lenses to come into contact with water, tap, swimming pool or sea
- If possible, switch to daily disposable contact lenses, these are widely recognised as the safest mode of wear for contact lenses, due to wearing a fresh, clean pair every day
- Read our related healthcare articles listed below.
It is not inevitable that as a contact lens wearer, you will experience a contact lens related eye infection, but unfortunately the risks are there. You can reduce your risk of getting an eye infection by following the suggestions above.
If you think you may have an eye infection you can reach out to our optometrist via the link in "Your Account". He suggest uploading an image to aid diagnosis.
Related Articles
- What is Conjunctivitis
- What is Acanthamoeba Keratitis
- How does Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis affect your eyes and Contact Lenses
- What is Uveitis
- What is Meibomian Gland Disorder
