Eye Infections | Conjunctivitis | Stye | MedlinePlus

Eye Infections | Conjunctivitis | Stye | MedlinePlus

Eye Infections

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

• Blepharitis
• Corneal ulcers and infections
• Cytomegalovirus retinitis
• Dacryoadenitis
• Endophthalmitis
• Eye burning - itching and discharge
• Eye redness
• Meibomianitis
• Orbital cellulitis
• Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome

Related Health Topics

• Eye Diseases
• Pinkeye

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Eye Infections is theNational Eye Institute

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Summary

Your eyes can get infections from bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Eye infections can occur in different parts of the eye and can affect just one eye or both. Two common eye infections are

• Conjunctivitis - also known as pinkeye. Conjunctivitis is often due to an infection. Children frequently get it, and it is very contagious.
• Stye - a bump on the eyelid that happens when bacteria from your skin get into the hair follicle of an eyelash.

Symptoms of eye infections may include redness, itching, swelling, discharge, pain, or problems with vision. Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and may include compresses, eye drops, creams, or antibiotics.

Start Here

• Eye Problems: Symptom Checker Flowchart (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
• Fungal Eye Infections 

Symptoms

• Eye Symptoms (American Academy of Ophthalmology)Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)

Treatments and Therapies

• How to Use Eye Drops Properly (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
• How to Use Eye Ointments and Gels Properly (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)

Related Issues

• Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections (American Academy of Ophthalmology)Also in Spanish
• Histoplasmosis  (National Eye Institute)
• Inflammation of the Orbit (Merck & Co., Inc.)Also in Spanish
• Trichiasis (Merck & Co., Inc.)Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Acanthamoeba Keratitis FAQs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Bacterial Keratitis (American Academy of Ophthalmology)Also in Spanish
• Blepharitis  (National Eye Institute)
• Cellulitis (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
• Dacryocystitis (Merck & Co., Inc.)Also in Spanish
• Endophthalmitis (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Fungal Keratitis (American Academy of Ophthalmology)Also in Spanish
• Herpes Keratitis (American Academy of Ophthalmology)Also in Spanish
• Shingles (American Academy of Family Physicians)Also in Spanish
• Sty (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Images

• Blepharitis (Logical Images)

Statistics and Research

• Fungal Eye Infection Statistics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Eye Infections  (National Institutes of Health)

Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Incidence of recurrent fungal keratitis after primary keratoplasty and visual outcome... 
• Article: Biofilm characterization of Fusarium solani keratitis isolate: increased resistance to antifungals... 
• Article: Notes from the Field: Acanthamoeba Keratitis Cases - Iowa, 2002-2017. 
• Eye Infections -- see more articles 

Reference Desk

• Glossary of Terms (Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology)
• NEI for Kids: Glossary  (National Eye Institute)

Find an Expert

• American Optometric Association 
• National Eye Institute 

Children

• About the Eye   (National Eye Institute)
• Eye Infections (American Academy of Pediatrics)Also in Spanish
• Molluscum Contagiosum (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)

Teenagers

• Colored Contact Lens Dangers  (American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Women

• Using Eye Makeup (American Academy of Ophthalmology)Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Blepharitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Corneal ulcers and infections (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Cytomegalovirus retinitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Dacryoadenitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Endophthalmitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Eye burning - itching and discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Eye redness (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Meibomianitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Orbital cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish
• Periorbital cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia)Also in Spanish