Man with chronic eye infections

Originally written December 6, 2018

When filming the 1955 movie “Summertime,” Katharine Hepburn had to fall in the Grand Canal in Venice multiple times. Unfortunately, the water was contaminated, and shooting this scene gave her an eye infection that lasted the rest of her life. Are chronic eye infections like Ms. Hepburn’s common, and how can they be treated?

In This Article...

  1. What is an eye infection?
  2. What is blepharitis?
  3. How do I prevent chronic eye infections?
  4. How do I treat a chronic eye infection?

What is an eye infection?

Eye infections are caused when a virus, bacteria, or in rare cases a parasite, attacks the eye. While the most common eye infection is viral conjunctivitis – or pink eye – eye infections can also affect the vitreous, optic nerve, cornea, or eyelid. An eyelid infection, also known as blepharitis, is the most common chronic infection.

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is an infection that can begin in either childhood or adulthood. It most often appears in two forms. In the first, the skin gets dry and scaly. In the second, hard, matted crusts form around the eyelashes, and when they are removed they leave small ulcers.

In both cases, people’s eyelashes may either whiten or fall out, the margins of their eyelids may distort, or they may have chronic tearing. They may also experience dry eye syndrome due to the destruction of the oil glands of the eyelids that protect the important tear film layer of the eye.

How do I prevent chronic eye infections?

To prevent eye infections, the main thing to consider is that they are derived from constant exposure of bacteria and viruses to the eye, which can come predominantly from your hands. Preventative measures in this case can include:

  • Washing your hands thoroughly before any necessary contact with or around your eyes
  • Replacing your contact lens container at least once a month
  • Avoid sharing makeup with others
  • Gently wash discharge around your eyes

How do I treat a chronic eye infection?

While a chronic eye infection can be uncomfortable, it can be treated. You’ll want to make sure you keep your eyelids clean by placing warm compresses – such as a washcloth – on your eyes each night. Also, make sure to massage your eyelids while applying the compress to open any clogged oil glands. Finally, close your eyes and scrub your eyelid margins for five to 10 seconds with a commercially-available lid-scrub cleanser.

If cleaning the area isn’t enough to control it, topical antibiotics, ointments, drops, and topical steroids may help. That said, in some cases cortisone can cause side effects like glaucoma and cataracts.

Make sure to not rub the eye or expose it to irritants like cigarette smoke or chemical fumes.

A chronic eye infection can affect all of us, from ordinary people to the greatest actress of all time. But knowing what you’re dealing with and how to treat it can help make it easier to live with.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. To make an appointment with any of CEENTA’s eye doctors, you may do so online, through myCEENTAchart, or by calling 704-295-3000.

 


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Comments

May 15, 2020

i have minimal eye secresions,mininal eye pain and fogy vision, what chronic eye infection could be? I want to do swab and culture, what do you think this could be?
- Dr Elham

May 15, 2020

Good afternoon. We cannot diagnose patients without seeing them. If you live in the Charlotte region and would like an in-person appointment, or you live anywhere in the United States and would like a virtual visit, please call 704-295-3000.
Reply From: CEENTA

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