Red eye infection is also known as the pink eye infection. This infection mainly affects children. This infection is characterized by the inflammation of the eye conjunctiva that covers the eye ball. The conjunctiva also lines the eye lids. Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms and types of red eye infection.
Causes of Red Eye Infection
The causes of this eye infection include:
- Eye irritants such as contact lens, chlorinated swimming pools, fumes and smog
- Iritis
- Acute glaucoma
- Any kind of trauma or injury to the eyes
- Foreign particle in the eye
- Incomplete opening of the tear duct (dacryostenosis)
- Chemicals
- Allergic reactions
- Viral or bacterial infection
Symptoms of Red Eye Infection
The symptoms of this eye infection includes:
- Watering of eyes
- Discharge from the eyes
- Swelling of eyes
- Persistent itching
- Redness of eyes
Types of Red Eye Infection (Conjunctivitis)
There are four types of red eye infections based on the causative agents. These include:
- Chemical conjunctivitis — This primarily occurs because of chemical injuries to the eyes. This requires immediate medical attention. You can first wash your eyes with clean and cold water.
- Allergic conjunctivitis — This mainly occurs due to exposure to any form of allergens. One of the important symptom of this infection is itching. Also, it is treated with decongestants and anti-histamines. To relieve the symptom, you may use cold compression.
- Viral conjunctivitis — This type of eye infection is strongly linked with colds. Also, this eye infection is contagious in nature.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis — This is the most common type of conjunctivitis. Symptoms like itching, photophobia, burning sensation, matting of eye, yellow-green eye discharge are exhibited in the patients. Hemophilus influenza is the most common bacterial agent which causes bacterial conjunctivitis. It is treated with antibiotic drops or ointment like sulphonamides, gatifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin and tobramycin.
