Common Eye Infections in San Antonio, TX

Eye infections can spread to individuals when someone rubs their eyes without having washed their hands. Often very contagious, they can occur because of bacteria, viruses, or even fungus. Because of this, we highly recommend not sharing eye cosmetics, washing hands before removing contacts, and not reusing any of these items if you do have an eye infection. Other eye infections are not contagious but stem from underlying dermatologic, inflammatory, oil gland, eyelid, dry eye, or tear duct conditions. Eye infections can cause discomfort, unsightly appearance, and decreased vision. Eye infections associated with contact lens wear can result in corneal ulcers that can cause permanent scarring and loss of vision. Eye infections can cause symptoms that range from minor to severe, and sometimes, they can clear up without intervention. However, several eye infections may become serious and require professional treatment.

If you or your child are experiencing an eye infection, please schedule an eye exam at Eye Surgeon Direct. Dr. Kristin Held has extensive experience and is skilled at diagnosing and treating well-known and rare classes of eye infections for San Antonio, TX patients.

The key to healing an eye infection is prompt detection and treatment. Some of the most common types of eye infections include blepharitis (lid disease), conjunctivitis (pink eye), corneal ulcers (eye abscesses or unhealed sores), styes and chalazion, and uveitis. Although infections of the eye are prevalent and quite treatable, even the most insignificant infection can result in a great deal of discomfort. Patients with eye infections often have symptoms that range from insignificant to severe and could include:

• Itching
• Burning
• Teary eyes
• Inflamed eyelids
• Oozing discharge
• Pimple-like bump on the lash line or eyelids

Please schedule a comprehensive eye evaluation at Eye Surgeon Direct if you experience any eye infection symptoms. Dr. Held will talk to you about your symptoms, perform a physical assessment of your eye, and potentially extract a small specimen of the infected area. Once she performs a careful eye examination, Dr. Held can determine the most effective method to treat your eye infection. The treatment will depend on the type of eye infection you have. We may prescribe antibiotics, antivirals,or steroids as pills, eye drops, ointments, or injections. Contributing problems must be identified and treated.

Although eye infections are usually harmless, they can sometimes be very dangerous. Often, eye infections are difficult to diagnose on your own. If you have an eye infection or feel something in your eye, please call our San Antonio, TX eye care team as soon as possible, particularly if you have irritation or redness. At Eye Surgeon Direct, our team can diagnose, treat, and alleviate eye infection symptoms.