Red-Flag Symptoms of Eye Infection to Watch Out For

by Ronit Roy Health Educator & Consultant

“The eye is the jewel of the body” as it is rightly said by Henry David Thoreau, eyes allow us to see this beautiful world and therefore we must take the best care of our eyes and maintain good eyesight. An eye infection can happen to anyone, so immediately rush to an eye specialist if you notice these signs of infection:

Red or pink eyes: Notice if your eyes have become red or pink as it could be “conjunctivitis”, a highly contagious eye infection.
Painful eyes: If you experience severe pain and burning sensation in your eyes and you have difficulty blinking or if your eye hurts due to light sensitivity, it may hint at an eye infection.
Tender or swollen eyelids: If your eyelids feel tender when you touch it or if it looks swollen, it’s time to see an ophthalmologist.
Crusty eyelashes and eyelids: Look for crusty eyes as it can be the reason for eye inflammation.
Small painful lump: If there’s a small lump that causes pain at the base of your eyelashes, it might be due to an infection in the eye.
Irritation and tearing up of your eyes: Eye infection can be the reason behind your irritated and dried eyes which further causes tearing up of your eyes.
Discharge: Check for yellow or green discharge settled above your eyelashes. If you find any fluid-like substance coming out, hurry up and go to an eye-specialist at that very moment.

As we all know, prevention is better than cure. You just need to inculcate some basic hygiene habits in your life that might protect you from getting eye infections. So, to prevent your eyes from getting infected, always ensure to touch your eyes with clean hands. Refrain yourself from rubbing your eyes, clean your eye makeup brushes after every application, use clean towels and tissues. Also, remember to never share your make up, or use cheap eye cosmetics and always remove your eye makeup before going to bed. People with contact lenses should replace their contact lenses every three months and should not sleep with their contact lenses at any cost.

If an eye infection occurs, you can apply a warm compress over your eyes to dull swelling and pain. However, if the symptoms persist, do go to an eye doctor to be further diagnosed.