Common Eye infections in San Antonio, TX

Almost all eye infections are spread from others in your life who have the infection. Quite frequently, eye infections are transferred from person to person when the unlucky recipient wipes their eyes before having washed their hands. They may be born from bacteria, a virus, or a fungus and are commonly very contagious. Individuals with eye infections often have aching, swelling, stinging, and itchiness in their eyes. These symptoms can range from minor to severe and if neglected, eye infections may also lead to short-term vision loss. Some eye infections are treatable with at-home solutions, and others may heal with no treatment; however, there is a selection of eye infections that are extremely serious and require attention from a skilled eye doctor.

If you think that you or a loved one has an eye infection, set up an eye evaluation at Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center. Board-certified ophthalmologists Dr. Allison Young and Dr. Jana Waters are highly skilled in diagnosing and alleviating routine and uncommon types of eye infections for San Antonio, TX individuals. We look forward to serving you and providing the relief you need.

It is beneficial for patients to educate themselves on the various signs and symptoms of common eye infections so they can recognize when it may be time to see a doctor. If you suspect that you or your child may have an eye infection, please call our office to schedule an exam as soon as possible. The most important aspect of relieving an infection is early detection.

• Styes and Chalazia
  A lot of patients confuse styes and chalazia due to the fact that they are both eyelid conditions that are remarkably similar in look and symptoms. Nevertheless, they are different conditions. A stye is produced when bacteria make their way into any one of your eyelash follicles. Typically, an irritated area of swelling then grows externally or internally near the lash line. Styes may be little or big and can create minor or great levels of pain, depending on their size and where they are located. A chalazion, however, is a congested or inflamed eyelid oil gland; consequently, they generally do not show up along the lash line. They almost always grow fairly slowly but can, by the end, become the size of a small pearl. Chalazia do not generally cause pain; however, if they are allowed to become big enough, they have the potential to impair vision.
• Blepharitis
  Though generally found in adults, blepharitis can affect younger patients as well. It is frequently the result of bacteria, but it may also be related to dry eye syndrome or fungal infection. The predominant symptom is oozing discharge that builds up a crust along the eyelids. Individuals who have blepharitis often also have watery, itchy, and burning eyes. Those with seborrheic dermatitis, ocular rosacea, or psoriasis have an elevated chance of getting this infection. Fortunately, there are multiple methods available to treat blepharitis, including the remarkable new Blephex system. Blephex is a precision-controlled, handheld device your doctor will use to gently but thoroughly exfoliate your eyelids and lash line to remove bacteria and chronic flaking.
• Conjunctivitis
  Also referred to as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an extremely common eye infection. Conjunctivitis is basically always the result of a virus or bacteria and is incredibly infectious. The main signs of pink eye are red, irritated eyes with greenish discharge. In cases where pink eye is caused by bacteria, antibiotics can be very beneficial.
• Corneal Ulcers
  Sometimes referred to as eye abscesses, corneal ulcers are, in essence, open wounds on the cornea. They might develop due to an injury or when bacteria or a foreign object (such as lawn debris) abrades the cornea. It is critical that you get these treated right away to avoid corneal scarring, which might lead to vision loss.
• Uveitis
  Anytime anyone experiences an infection in the uvea (the interior layer of the eye wall), it is called uveitis. Uveitis is almost always associated with an autoimmune disease, though it can also be caused by a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. It could cause trauma to eye tissue and lead to partial blindness. It is quite easy to diagnose by the excessive eye redness, sensitivity to light, and orbital pain. Though it is particularly important to alleviate the symptoms, it is also important to establish and deal with its base cause.

While eye infections are very common, and thankfully, treatable, the most insignificant infection can result in a lot of discomfort. Individuals with eye infections may deal with symptoms that range from slight to severe and could include itching, burning, watering eyes, swollen eyelids, and yellowish discharge. Some infections, for example, styes, can generate a lump on the eyelid. Although vision loss is unusual with many types of infections, partial blindness can happen in extreme cases.

Almost all routine eye infections are produced by bacteria, a virus, or a fungus. They are most commonly spread and caught by children and adults who come into contact with one of these infectious agents and then touch their eyes after neglecting to clean their hands. Some patients may have eye infections more regularly from wearing contact lenses. This is why it is necessary that you completely wash your hands before putting in or taking out your contacts. Moreover, you should never share eye cosmetics. You should toss out any of these and not continue using them if you do get an eye infection.

Set up an eye checkup at Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center if you notice the symptoms of an eye infection. Our team will talk to you about your symptoms and complete a physical examination of your eye. We may order a few tests to pinpoint the type of infection you have contracted, which might include removing a tiny sample of the affected area. Diagnosing the type of and reason for the infection is key to designing your treatment plan and preventing infections later on.

Once we have performed a detailed eye evaluation, we will be able to establish the best way to deal with your eye infection. Your treatment approach will be based on the kind of infection you have. For infections that are bacterial, we might prescribe an oral or eye-drop form of antibiotics. If there is extreme swelling, we might use eye drops, or perhaps injections that contain cortisone or a steroid. For patients with a stye or chalazion that hasn't cleared up on its own, a laser treatment or minimally invasive surgery may be recommended.

While eye infections are generally minor, they have the potential to be quite serious, and it may be impossible to figure out which kind you have without seeing a doctor. If you catch an eye infection, or if you get a foreign body stuck in your eye, it's important to see a professional as soon as possible, especially if it's creating pain or redness. At Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center, our seasoned ophthalmologists are comprehensively trained and widely experienced in diagnosing and managing eye infections for considerable relief.