Eye infections occur when the micro-organisms like fungi, bacteria and viruses gain entry in the eye and cause disease. Depending on the region of the eye involved, there can be inflammation in the outermost layer—conjunctiva, or the more sensitive cornea, the inner uvea and the more serious orbital infections that need aggressive treatment.
Whatever the cause may be, eye infections should be treated promptly by Eye specialist in Lahore. The good thing is that once they are recognized by a professional, they are not hard to treat. Read on to know how to deal with recurrent eye infections:
What are the symptoms of eye infection?
An eye infection manifests most often with redness in the eye. Additionally, there can be blurring of vision, watering in the eye—especially with viral infections, and discharge from the eye—most often in case of a bacterial infection. Discharge from the eye can cause the eyes to be sticky, especially early in the morning. Itching and burning in the eye are also symptoms of infection.
How to avoid recurrent eye infections?
For anyone suffering from an eye infection, its best to avoid touching the area around the eye. Moreover, it’s important to practice constant hand washing as the infection can be contagious. If you are infected, don’t share you towels and bedding items with anyone else. Change your sheets and pillow cover often to avoid any bacteria from harboring.
If you are a contact lens wearer, practice good hygiene like hand washing before putting the contacts on or off. The risk of recurrent eye infections is also higher in contact lens wearer, and therefore, they should observe safety tips. For instance, they should not swim with their contact lens on. If you do wear your lens while swimming or while in the hot tub, be sure to disinfect them immediately after.
It is also not recommended to wear your contact lens overnight, or sleep while wearing them, even if they are the ‘breathable’ hydrogel contact lens. Even though they are FDA approved for overnight wear, they significantly increase the risk of infections in the wearer. Do not use your contact lens or their cleaning solutions past their expiration date. There is only a certain amount of time the contact lens are good for use, and past that time they are only increasing the risk of eye infection.
How to treat eye infection?
Eye infections are treated with the help of prescription antibiotic drops and ointments. For more severe and persistent infections oral antibiotics can be added to the treatment regimen. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe artificial tears and other topical medication to minimize the discomfort.
For chronic or recurrent conjunctivitis, a variety of environmental factors or micro-organisms may be responsible. For precise diagnosis, a careful history, and examination, along with a conjunctival culture and/or biopsy are required. An accurate diagnosis by Best Eye specialist in Lahore also helps in the efficacy of treatment.
