Raised sensibility, photosensitivity, pain and reddening around the eyes, as well as tears, that stick the eyelids together, are signs for an eye infection.
The term eye infection means a functional disorder or a disease of the eye, that can manifest in various forms. The causes are usually bacterial, which enter the eye through the conjunctiva. Wind can transport bacteria into the eye through air, heated rooms also benefit infections as they dry out the eyes.
People who wear contact lenses need to play close attention to lens care, as denaturised proteins can remain on the lens and irritate the eye. We advice to wear lenses by known producers and the use of adequate cleaning agents, that remove the protein. Many of the available all-in-one solutions do not remove the protein completely.
Any eye infection can be a trace-appearance of another disease, such as pollen allergy, green star, rubella, rheum, borreliosis.
An early diagnosis helps healing and usually doesn’t leave any marks on the eye. A late diagnosis leaves the possibility that the infection already got to the cornea, which means higher risk to lose the eyesight. It is recommended to consult a doctor if the symptoms last longer than a few days.
Therapy depends on the cause and offers a variety of treatments. Mechanical irritations need to be removed through surgery. A bacterial infection asks for a diagnosis of the involved bacteria and adequate use of antibiotics. Infections that are caused by dirty contact lenses usually heal after abstaining from wearing the lenses and treating the eyes with drops and creams.
To prevent infections in the eye it is recommended to avoid dry and dusty air, wind, and certain artificial lights.