Eye infections may result from exposure to viral, fungal, or bacterial sources. Parasites also can cause eye infections. In some cases, eye infections are contagious.
- Stys or Styes: Stys or styes often result from bacterial infections affecting eyelid glands or eyelids.
- Conjunctivitis or “Pink Eye”: A child or adult with bloodshot eyes and eyelid rims could have a common eye infection or irritation known as “pink eye” or conjunctivitis. “Pink eye” can result from many sources, including dust or other irritants.
- Blepharitis: Blepharitis is a type of eye infection or irritation that causes swelling within the eyelid rims or margins, often at the roots of eyelashes.
- Keratitis: Keratitis occurs with eye infection or irritation affecting the clear front surface of the eye (cornea).
- Dacryocystitis: Dacryocystitis is infection or irritation within the eye’s tear duct or tear sac.
- Orbital Cellulitis: Orbital cellulitis involves infection of the hollowed inner eye or orbit, sometimes when infection spreads from other locations.
- Vision loss and other serious conditions can result without prompt treatment of this eye infection.
- Cytomegalovirus Retinopathy: This eye infection is common in people with AIDs, and may progress to blindness. The cytomegalovirus also is very common in the general population, and generally creates only temporary flu-like symptoms. But in individuals with compromised immune systems, the virus can progress to damage the eye’s inner back, light sensitive layer (retina) where images are processed.