When left untreated, eye infections are often painful and hard to cope with. At Legacy Eye Care, with two offices in South Hill and additional locations in Chester and Colonial Heights, Virginia, the dedicated team of experienced optometrists offers treatment for eye infections that help you see comfortably and clearly. Call the office nearest to you, or book online to schedule your appointment today.

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What are eye infections?

Eye infections occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi enter your eye. Usually, infections occur in the eye’s outer surface (the cornea), the inside of the eyelid (the conjunctiva) or the eyelid.

Most eye infections happen because of direct transfer of a microorganism, usually from your fingers (rubbing your eyes). You can also develop an eye infection if you wear dirty contacts.

What are the signs of an eye infection?

An eye infection can cause symptoms such as:

  • Dry eyes
  • Itching
  • Burning
  • Red or pink eyes
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Watery eyes
  • Eye discharge
  • Matted eyelashes when you wake up
  • Puffy or swollen eyelids

When left untreated, an eye infection could potentially lead to serious complications like corneal ulcers and even vision loss.

Recognizing these symptoms early and seeking prompt treatment at Legacy Eye Care can prevent an eye infection from harming your eye health and vision long-term.

How are eye infections diagnosed?

The Legacy Eye Care team evaluates your eyes during a full eye exam. They’ll ask about your symptoms and try to determine how your infection occurred.

The team carefully checks your outer eye and eye surface, and they typically dilate your eyes to examine the deeper layers of the eye as well. They may also take a tiny sample of eye fluid or cells from your eye for lab testing.

What is the best way to treat eye infections?

Because eye infections come from a number of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi, treatment is always customized for that specific microorganism.

In general, bacterial eye infections respond to antibiotics, fungal eye infections improve with antifungals, and viral eye infections usually resolve naturally in time. There are also antiviral medications for certain types of viral eye infections.

Usually, treatment includes eye drops or topical ointments, but occasionally an eye infection may require oral medication. If you wear contacts, you’ll need to change to glasses temporarily. Most people experience symptom relief in only a few days when using prescription medication.

The team at Legacy Eye Care can treat all types of infections effectively, so you can feel better and improve your eye health.

If you have an eye infection, take the first step toward relief by calling or booking online for the nearest Legacy Eye Care office in South Hill, Chester, or Colonial Heights, Virginia.