Being one of the sense organs, and one of the most vital parts of the human body, eyes are often not as cared for as they should be. Aside from getting the required amount of nutrients for the eyes, you must ensure to take regular breaks from any screen-time, wear sunglasses outdoors, and wash their face regularly. But despite taking care, you may contract an eye infection due to harmful bacteria or virus attacks any part of our eyes or the surrounding area. This includes our cornea which is the clear front surface of the eye and the thin and moist membrane which is lining the outer eye and conjunctiva.

Types of eye infections
If you have been experiencing constant irritation and itching in the eyes, along with increased tenderness, redness, or swelling, it is important you go to an ophthalmologist at the earliest. Given below are descriptions of some eye infections you could be affected by:

• Conjunctivitis
  Conjunctivitis is also and commonly knows ‘Pink Eye’. This infection is highly contagious and mostly seen in children under the age of 15 but it may be contracted by adults too. It is a kind of viral eye infection; thus, anybody who closely interacts with the infected person will also get infected. School going children and teachers are most commonly infected by this.
• Viral Keratitis
  Apart from the pink eye, other viral eye infection includes Ocular Herpes. It occurs due to direct with direct exposure to type 1 herpes simplex virus. This virus can cause inflammation in the cornea of the eye and sometimes scarring, which is known as a cold sore on the eye. Herpes can be transmitted to close interaction with an already infected person.
• Fungal keratitis
  If you wear contact lenses regularly, you are at risk of contracting this infection. An outbreak of fungal keratitis is caused due to fungi that can breach the ocular surface of the cornea. These fungi are mainly found in organic matters.
• Acanthamoeba Keratitis
  This is another eye infection that is mostly seen among the users of contact lenses. Usually, a contact lens user is always at high risk from harmful parasites which can lead to sight-threatening eye infections called Acanthamoeba Keratitis. This is why contact lens users are asked to remove their lenses before diving into the swimming pool.
• Trachoma
  It is an eye disease which can cause damage to the extent of blindness and is most prevalent in poverty-stricken areas in Africa. Although this infection is not quite common in the United States, since it is contagious, it can spread through contact with the eyes, nose or throat secretions of infected persons. Eye-seeking flies insects are also known to spread the infection in unsanitary environments.
• Endophthalmitis
  Certain bacteria can lead to eye infections such as endophthalmitis which can further lead to eye blindness if remained untreated or not treated immediately. This infection might cause due to any previous interior penetrated eye injury or rare cases of open eye surgery.

Irrespective of which infection you have if you suspect any symptoms immediately visit an eye specialist without trying to self-diagnose or ignoring the issue.