Eye herpes, also known as herpes keratitis, is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

There are two major types of the virus; Type I and Type II. While both types of herpes can spread to the eye and cause infection, Type I is by far the most frequent cause of eye infections. It is rare to transfer Type II to the eye.

Here are commonly asked questions about eye herpes.

#1 Is this condition serious? 

Yes. Eye herpes is a serious infection of your cornea, possibly causing life-long blindness.

Once treated, eye herpes usually lasts 1-3 weeks, sometimes even longer.

Treatment normally lasts two weeks, and you should see results within five days.

#2 What are common symptoms of eye herpes?

At the first sign of an outbreak, contact your doctor to begin treatment as soon as possible to reduce the possibility of vision loss.

Common symptoms of herpes keratitis may include:

• Blurred vision
• Discharge
• Pain
• Rash
• Redness
• Sensitivity to light
• Tearing

If the infection only involves the cornea’s outer layer, it will usually heal without scarring. However, if it involves the deeper layers of cornea, the infection may lead to scarring of the cornea, loss of vision and sometimes even blindness.

Left untreated, eye herpes can cause severe and permanent vision loss.

If you suffer with persistent red eyes, it is vital to contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat eye herpes with the appropriate medication.

SEE RELATED: Corneal Ulcers

#3 How often do flare-ups recur? 

20% of people who’ve had eye herpes will have another outbreak within a year of the initial infection.

While several factors contribute to a recurrence, if you experience multiple flare-ups, your doctor may recommend taking a daily antiviral medication for prevention.

#4 What causes flare-ups?

Major stressors can often lead to a bout of eye herpes. These include:

• Fever
• Trauma
• Emotional distress
• Excessive sunlight exposure (UV rays)
• Refractive surgery (LASIK, etc.)
• Major surgical or dental procedures

A weakened immune system can also put you at increased risk of an eye herpes flare-up, and potentially lead to an outbreak.

#5 How is eye herpes treated?

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, general health, and the severity of the outbreak. .

Possible treatments may include:

• Antibiotic drops for your eyes (to prevent further infection by bacteria)
• Antibiotic ointment for your eyelids (to prevent infection by bacteria)
• Antiviral drops for your eyes
• Antiviral ointment for your eyelids
• Antiviral medicines taken by mouth
• Steroid drops for your eyes (to reduce inflammation)

While most of these treatments are fairly short-term, you may also need to take antiviral oral medicine on a long-term basis. This is to help prevent future flare-ups. Some complications of eye herpes may require additional treatment.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat your eye herpes.

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To help you out, here are the key differences between dry eyes and eye infections.

Important Note: While learning about these eye problems is helpful, nothing can replace the care and diagnostic skills of an eye doctor.

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned below, schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you.

Dry eyes or eye infection? 

Dry eyes

Dry eyes are caused by a chronic lack of eye hydration, brought on by either poor tear quality or insufficient tears.

Individuals suffering from dry eyes will experience any number of the following symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Burning or itchy eyes
• Grittiness
• Red, irritated eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery eyes

Dry eyes can be caused by irritants such as heat and air conditioning, dry, windy weather, some health conditions, drugs, the aging process, or too much screen time.

The goal of treating dry eyes is to keep your eyes hydrated, which can often be accomplished by using artificial tears, increasing tear production, treating inflammation in the eyelids, or conserving tears in the eyes.

Eye infections 

Eye infections occur when harmful microorganisms like bacteria, fungus and viruses invade and wreak havoc on the different parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and eyelids.

Here are a few common signs:

• Crustiness around the eyelashes and lids
• Enlarged lymph nodes near the ear
• Eye pain or irritation
• Eye redness
• Swollen eyelids
• Yellowy discharge from the eyes

If you suspect that you have an eye infection, don’t take a “wait and see” approach. Prompt treatment will facilitate a speedier recovery and help prevent any possible eye damage.

What to do? 

The key to properly diagnosing and treating any eye condition is a comprehensive eye exam. 

In addition to examining your eyes, your eye doctor may also ask questions about your lifestyle, medical history and family history to better understand your condition.

So, whether you suspect you have dry eye syndrome or an eye infection, schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you.

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Eye allergy symptoms can sometimes mimic an eye infection, making it difficult to know whether a trip to the eye doctor is warranted or not.

This page will discuss the differences between an eye allergy and conjunctivitis, though it is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. 

What is conjunctivitis?

Infectious conjunctivitis, commonly known as ‘pink eye’, is one of the most common eye infections.

When blood vessels in the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that covers your eye, become infected by a virus or bacteria, an infection can develop.

Common pink eye symptoms:

• Pink or red eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Excessive tearing
• Increased tear production
• Thick yellow discharge
• Crust in eye corner
• Foreign body sensation

Different types of conjunctivitis

There are two different types of infectious conjunctivitis: Bacterial and viral.

1) Bacterial conjunctivitis is a highly contagious, bacterial eye infection that can affect one or both eyes. In many cases, it starts out in one eye and then spreads to the other eye.

Bacterial conjunctivitis affects around 135 in 10,000 Americans annually.

Common symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis include:

• Pink or red eyes
• Crust in eyelid corners
• Yellow or green discharge
• Swollen eyelids
• Eyelids that are stuck together upon waking

If your child has bacterial conjunctivitis, an antibiotic eye drop, ointment, or oral medication will be prescribed to eliminate the bacteria.

Symptoms should subside within a couple of days after treatment, but your child could still be contagious for up to two weeks.

2) Viral conjunctivitis (pink eye) is a highly contagious, viral eye infection that generally affects both eyes, and often accompanies a cold, sore throat, or fever.

Viral conjunctivitis is the most common form of pink eye.

Common symptoms of viral conjunctivitis include:

• Pink eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Watery discharge

If your child has viral conjunctivitis, symptoms usually subside within a week to 10 days.

Although there is no medication to treat viral pink eye, you can help to relieve uncomfortable symptoms by applying warm or cold wet compresses to your child’s eyes. Artificial tears eye drops may also help to alleviate some of the discomfort.

If you suspect your child has an eye infection, contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: Children’s Eye Emergencies

What is allergic conjunctivitis?

Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when the body overreacts to something in its environment and the conjunctiva becomes inflamed and irritated.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) is the most common type of eye allergy.

Common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis

Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis can be experienced in spring, summer, or fall and present with a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and other typical hay fever symptoms.

Eye symptoms may include:

• Red eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Sore eyes
• Watery discharge
• Dark circles under eyes
• Swollen eyelids
• Sensitivity to bright lights

Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and can be treated quickly with appropriate treatment.

To treat eye allergies, your eye doctor may recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine eye drop or oral medication. In some cases, anti-inflammatory eye drops will be prescribed to reduce swelling and provide further relief of your symptoms.

Symptoms of infectious conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis are very similar, and can be difficult to diagnose without visiting your eye doctor or primary care physician. 

LEARN MORE: Guide to Pediatric Eye Conditions

If your child’s eyes are pink, itchy, irritated or swollen, schedule an eye exam  as soon as possible.

With a proper diagnosis and effective treatment plan, your child will soon begin to feel like themselves again.

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An eye infection or eye injury can be very painful and require emergency medical treatment.  Contact your doctor immediately if you experience trauma to your eye from a foreign body or chemical substance, or if your eye is red and oozing.

Symptoms of an eye emergency

• Irritation or itchiness
• Red or pink eyes
• Stinging or burning
• Foreign object stuck in your eye
• Pain
• Double Vision
• Burns
• Seeing flashes of light
• New sensitivity to light
• Sudden changes in pupil size
• New “floaters” in your field of view
• Dark shadows gliding across your vision
• Sudden vision loss, in one or both eyes

If you need emergency eye care, immediately contact an eye doctor near you, who can provide emergency medical care.

SEE RELATED: When is Blurred Vision a Medical Emergency?

Eye infection (red/pink Eye)

Eye infections can be caused by numerous reasons ranging from viral to bacterial, to contact with a harmful substance. People who wear contact lenses are more susceptible to eye infections. If you have an eye infection, it is crucial to remove your contacts until you visit your emergency eye doctor for an examination. 

Signs of an eye infection:

• Discharge that is green, yellow, or bloody (white or cream colored discharge is normal)
• Red eyes or eyelids
• Feeling that something is stuck in your eye
• Eye pain
• A white or gray sore on your iris
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Blurry vision, or other vision changes
• Fever, with no other cause

What to do if a foreign object is stuck in your eye

Even the tiniest eyelash or grain of sand, can cause eye irritation and pain. However, there is no need to panic as most of the time, you can remove it safely at home. Just follow these steps to safely remove the object from your eye:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water
2. Locate the object by looking in a mirror
3. Squeeze your eyelids shut and blink to produce tears which will flush the object out. Do not rub your eyes, as it can make the problem worse.
4. If the object is behind the upper eyelid: pull your upper lid gently over your lower eyelid, then look upward to push the object off the upper lid.
5. If the object is under the lower lid or in the corner of your eye, use a damp soft cloth or cotton swab to gently remove it.
6. Use a cup of lukewarm water to flush the object out by placing your eye over the cup with your lids open, and slowly pour lukewarm water into your eye.

Remember – Eyes are extremely delicate. If you are unable to remove the object from your eye, stay calm and contact your eye doctor for emergency assistance.

If you think that the foreign substance cut into your eye surface, it is crucial to seek emergency eye care immediately to prevent putting your vision at risk.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Exams

If you need emergency eye care, immediately contact an eye doctor near you, who can provide emergency eye care.

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