Plus, a list of common symptoms.
This week, iconic singer-songwriter Elton John revealed that he has lost his eyesight. The cause? An eye infection. In an Instagram post, John explained the infection left him with “only limited vision in one eye.” He hasn’t yet specified his diagnosis but called his healing “an extremely slow process” that “will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.” Then, at a gala performance of The Devil Wears Prada musical in London — for which he wrote the score — he told the crowd: “As you know, I have lost my eyesight, so it’s hard to see [the show].”
While we don’t yet know what particular type of eye infection has led to John’s loss of vision, multiple types of infections can lead to vision loss or even blindness. That said, other infections can be comfortably treated at home. To keep your peepers in tip-top shape, we’re reviewing which ones have the potential to become serious medical emergencies.
What is an eye infection?
An eye infection is an eye disease that occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites enter an eye and begin to grow. These infections can occur in one or both eyes; though infections can become serious medical emergencies, they may also pass without much trouble.
Can an eye infection cause vision loss?
Yes, some eye infections can cause vision loss or blindness. That said, others — like a light case of pink eye — can be treated at home. The easiest way to figure out whether your eye infection could lead to something more severe? Contact your doctor for a diagnosis; they can examine your eyes, review your risk factors, ask about your medical history, and swab discharge from your eye to send off to a lab for testing.
Types of eye infections that cause vision loss
Conjunctivitis — also known as pink eye — is the most common eye infection. It’s possible to catch a viral, bacterial, Gonococcal, or Chlamydial case of pink eye. While a very rare complication, pink eye can cause light sensitivity and blurred vision. You may have pink eye if you have redness, swelling, tears, discharge, or itching eyes.
Another common type of infection, Keratitis, is inflammation or infection of your cornea (that’s the clear outer layer on the colored part of the eye). Keratitis can be caused by fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections; it mostly affects people who wear contact lenses. In fact, if you neglect basic contact lens maintenance, your chance of getting keratitis increases. When treated quickly — with antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal drops or pills — you’ll likely recover quickly; however, untreated keratitis may lead to vision loss. You may have keratitis if you’re experiencing eye redness, pain, excessive tears or discharge, difficulty opening your eye due to discomfort, blurred vision, decreased vision, sensitivity to light, or a feeling that something is in your eye.
Endophthalmitis is a very painful infection that occurs inside the eye; it can either be caused by an eye injury or puncture wound during surgery, or the infection can develop in another part of the body and then move to the eye. Cataract surgery is the most common cause of endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis is a medical emergency; if not treated quickly, it can cause blindness. You may have endophthalmitis if you’ve got eye pain that increases after surgery, an injection or injury to the eye, red eyes, white or yellow pus discharging from the eye, swollen or puffy eyelids, or decreased, lost, or blurred vision.
Cellulitis is a bacterial or fungal infection that may spread fairly swiftly. It might develop from an insect bite, skin wound, or sinus infection. Cellulitis is very serious and must be treated immediately; it can cause vision loss and can also move to the rest of your body. You could have cellulitis if you notice swollen eyelids (and possibly swelling in your eyebrow and cheek), bulging eyes, decreased vision, pain when moving your eye, fever higher than 102°F, double vision, difficulty moving your eye, or a shiny red or purple eyelid.
