What do you do when your eye is itchy or turning red?

If you are thinking of taking an antibiotic, then stop. Not all eye infections respond to antibiotic eye drops.

Antibiotic eye drops work on bacterial infections.

There is a variety of things besides bacteria that can infect your eye. And there are many other medicines to manage it.

According to a national library of medicine, Conjunctivitis is the most common eye infection. It is predominantly viral and does not need antibiotic eye drops.

Most eye infections, if diagnosed and treated early, are not threatening.

Continue reading to learn more about various eye infections and the medications that can be used to treat them.

Warning
Even though some eye infections are mild and can go away without medical treatment, you should seek medical treatment or speak with your doctor. 
Because if an eye infection is not treated properly or gets severe, it can lead to vision loss.


Medicine for Keratitis

Keratitis is an ocular condition. It is characterized by Inflammation of the cornea.

Treatments for Keratitis depend on whether the condition is infectious or not.

But topical administration of drugs, that is, eyedrops is the most common form of initial treatment for Keratitis.

For most cases, Corticosteroid eye drops for eye infection are the first-line treatment for Keratitis. 

If unresponsive to the treatment, your doctor may suggest Cyclosporine and Tacrolimus. They are Calcineurin inhibitors and work as Immunosuppressants. 

Recently, FDA approved Oxervate (Cenergermin), a topical solution consisting of human nerve growth.

If you have severe or infectious Keratitis, it is essential to get adequate treatment to avoid partial or total vision loss.

Viruses, Bacteria, fungi, or Acanthamoeba can cause infectious Keratitis. 

If you have viral Keratitis due to HSV-1 (Oral Herpes) infection. Then topical Trifluridine and Acyclovir are effective treatments. 

You can use these with Glucocorticoid eye drops to increase the effectiveness of treatment.

For Bacterial Infection
You can use Azithral Eye Drops or Milflox. They work by stopping the growth of bacteria and preventing the infection from spreading.

Depending on the type of fungi, your doctor can prescribe the following topical antifungal agents for fungal eye infections:

Lastly, you can use Biguanides to treat Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

Polyhexamethylene Biguanides are used to treat eye infections caused by the parasite Acanthamoeba.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, allergic
Allergic Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is the most common eye infection that causes inflammation of the mucus membranes.

It is commonly caused by allergy, pollution, and bacterial or viral infection.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis, if left untreated, can last for about two weeks. You can take the following antibiotics or ointment to clear the infection in two or three days.

Viral Conjunctivitis may cause tearing in the eyes. It does not need any specific treatment, and the infection usually passes in about ten days.

Allergic Conjunctivitis is caused by sensitivity to pollens, medicines, or cosmetics.

You can take Antihistamines or anti-allergy eye drops to treat it.

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Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis is a severe inflammatory condition caused by bacteria or fungi to tissues or fluids of the eyeball.

Sometimes, it can develop after an injury like eye penetration or surgery.

Exogenous Endophthalmitis (EE) is an eye infection caused by an external source.

It can occur due to bacteria or fungi getting in from eye surgery or an injury from object penetration.

To treat EE, your doctor can prescribe oral antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, for eye infections due to bacteria. You can reduce inflammation by taking Corticosteroid shots.

A study suggests that injection of Cefuroxime helps avoid infection after cataract surgery. Cefuroxime is an antibiotic that works by stopping bacterial growth.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an eyelid irritation that can lead to dry eye. It can occur if oil glands in your eyelids are blocked.

In Blepharitis, tiny dandruff-like particles forming along the eyelashes can cause irritation.

The treatment for Blepharitis is based on the following:

  • Eyelid hygiene
  • Topical antibiotics
  • Systemic antibiotics
  • Topical anti-inflammatory agents.

To improve eyelid hygiene, you can apply warm compresses on closed eyelids for several minutes.

It softens the particles on eyelids and warms the secretions from oil glands.

Besides, antibiotics like Eyemist E/D and Doxycycline for eye infections effectively treat Blepharitis condition.

Eye infection medicine for pink eye
Eye infection medicine

Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital Cellulitis is an infection of the soft tissues behind the orbital septum of the eye.

Infection usually occurs around the eye socket due to bacteria from the paranasal sinuses or bloodstream.

In most cases, admission to the hospital is needed to treat Orbital Cellulitis.

Based on the results from the diagnosis and your age, your doctor will modify the antibiotic dose.

To treat the infection in infants, you can use third-generation Cephalosporin such as:

  • Cefotaxime
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Ceftazidime

Third-generation Cephalosporin is Beta Lactam Antimicrobial; it reduces infections by controlling gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Clindamycin and Metronidazole are effective oral antibiotics for eye infections in older children.

Intravenous Corticosteroids are also beneficial in the management of Orbital Cellulitis.

During the treatment, the patient should be observed closely for any signs of progression of Orbital Cellulitis.

Periorbital Cellulitis

Periorbital Cellulitis is an eyelid infection in the skin and soft tissues around the eyes.

Children under 5 are most likely to have it, but adults can also get it.

Usually, oral antibiotics are used to treat mild symptoms of infection. 

Given the severity of the condition, Clindamycin or Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) can be taken with the following:

  • Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
  • Cefpodoxime
  • Cefdinir

If the condition is severe or does not improve within 24 hrs, the patient should be admitted to the hospital.

If the infection persists, then Beta-lactam antibiotics are recommended by a doctor to treat the condition.

Uveitis

Uveitis is an infection of the uvea in the eye. Uvea is the middle layer of your eyeball that transports blood to your retina.

It often occurs from immune system conditions, eye injuries, or viral infections. Uveitis usually does not cause long-term problems, but the severe untreated condition can lead to loss of vision.

In the early stages of infection, topical and systemic administration of Glucocorticoids is given to control the progression.

Long-term use of Glucocorticoids can cause serious side effects.

Thus patients with unmanageable Uveitis are treated with a combination of Immunomodulatory agents such as:

  • Cyclosporine A
  • Methotrexate
  • Azathioprine
  • Mycophenolate Mofetil

A study by Neti N and Pimsri A showed that the slow-release of Glucocorticoid injections effectively improves visual acuity and vitreous inflammatory clouding and reduces pain.

Takeaway

Eye infection, if left untreated, can cause vision loss. Thus it is essential to diagnose eye infections properly.

Medicines for eye infection can vary from person to person, depending on the cause and severity of the condition.

Speak with your doctor about doses and eye infection medicine before you take it.

If you are suffering from severe infections, then seek medical attention immediately. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an over-the-counter medicine for eye infections?

Yes. Depending on the kind of infection and its severity, eye ointments are available in the market. Though it is better you speak with your doctor before taking them as they might be ineffective for your eye infection.

Can an eye infection go away on its own?

It depends on the cause and severity of the infection. It may go away in a few days if it is mild, like viral Conjunctivitis. But seek medical attention if symptoms are severe, as it can lead to partial or total vision loss.

Citations:
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