If your eye is swollen, sensitive to light, red, painful, or creating discharge, you may have an eye infection and should immediately see an eye doctor serving Derry, Londonderry, or Windham for an eye exam. Eye infections fall into four broad categories: bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral. Your eye doctor can tell you more after an exam.

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a common and highly contagious type of eye infection that often has viral or bacterial origins. Pinkeye is frequently spread among children in classrooms and daycare centers, and people who work with kids are more likely to be infected.

Parasites are single-celled organisms that most often cause eye infections when a person wears their contacts in water. These infections can be stubborn to treat, so always use the proper solution to store your contacts and remove your lenses when you plan to be in the water.

Fungal eye infections are less common, but they can cause severe damage to the eye or even blindness. Contact wearers are at a higher risk for fungal eye infections so should always use fresh contact solution, take out their lenses before sleeping, contact lenses should be replaced according to the schedule that your doctor gave you, and avoid wearing their contacts in the shower, bath, or hot tub.

Types of Eye Infections