Are eye infections contagious?
Are eye infections contagious?
Some of the most common eye infections can spread to someone else. The result of contracting a contagious disease can start with redness. Other symptoms include seeing black spots and having blurry vision or even blindness. However, many eye infections can cause discomfort without putting others at risk. When you know the difference, it may help protect your sight. In addition, it can help you get eye infection treatment when you need it.
Identifying Contagious Eye Infections by Appearance
Contagious eye infections caused by bacteria or viruses may spread to other people. However, those that occur from allergies do not affect anyone else. Signs of infection include irritation, blurry vision, pain, and other symptoms.
Red, Watery, Itchy, and Inflamed Eyes
One of the most often occurring eye infections gets its name by turning the white of the eye pink. It can pass easily from one person to another. About 3 million people contract pink eye (conjunctivitis) every year. Infection can spread by touching the eyes without clean hands. Other things to avoid may include borrowing makeup or contacts from an infected person.
In some cases, an infection may start with something as simple as a cough from someone who has a cold. Treatment by an eye infection doctor can shorten the time pink eye lasts. Even more, it can help prevent the contagion from spreading. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 20 seconds of handwashing after contact with a person who has it. In addition, good hygiene requires disposing of anything that touches a person who has pink eye.
Painful Red Lump on Eyelid Edge
An infection that looks painful meets people’s expectations when they see it. However, a sty’s resemblance to a pimple may lead to a desire to squeeze it, a huge mistake. In addition, the highly contagious fluid in the infection can infect other people. It can even create another outbreak in the same eyelid.
In addition, a sty can produce an extremely painful condition. It stems from bacteria that live on the skin or inside the nose. Rubbing the eyes after touching an area that contains staph bacteria can give the infection a start. Frequent hand washing can help prevent it. A sty may last a few weeks before it goes away on its own. However, an eye infection doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help resolve the infection. Severe cases may require surgical intervention.
Redness, Blurred Vision, Discharge, and Light Sensitivity
A contagious infection that inflames the dome-like covering over the pupil and iris, keratitis can spread to others. Skin contact with someone who has a viral infection can initiate it. Common bacteria cause it, making the condition occur to some people more than others. For example, it often comes with the improper use of contact lenses. An exam by an optometrist can identify the strains which occur from an eye injury. Some may result from wearing contacts too long or other causes. Eye infection treatment may include antibiotics for bacterial infections. Any potential symptoms need immediate attention.
Itching and Swollen Eyelids, Draining and Light Sensitivity
Stemming from unsanitary conditions that draw flies, trachoma rarely occurs in the United States. Still, the eye disease impairs the vision of about 2 million people worldwide and requires urgent Eye infection treatment. Proper hygiene helps prevent infection, and oral antibiotics provide vital control over the world’s leading cause of blindness.
Blurred Vision and Seeing Black Spots
Loss of night vision that makes it more difficult to drive after dark may serve as an alert. Retinitis can occur in one eye or both. While not highly contagious, the viral infection affects the retina. It can spread to others through close personal contact as an infectious disease. Sight loss usually starts on the sides and may end with the loss of central vision. Without treatment by an eye infection doctor, the virus can destroy the retina. Unfortunately, it can damage the optic nerve.
Recognizing Contagious Eye Infections
The causes of infections vary by type, and each one shows specific symptoms. You may recognize them more easily by their symptoms than their scientific name. However, identifying them can help you know if you can get an infection from someone else. Eye infection treatment usually requires medications after a visit to an eye doctor. In Odessa, Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists can help you resolve issues with an eye infection.
Residents of the greater Odessa, Fl community can find optometrist Dr. Christopher Tumolo at Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists. Located at 16230 FL-54 in the Crossings Shopping Mall.
