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Fungal eye infections cause blurred vision, redness, pain, sensitivity to light, and watery eyes. Contact lens wearers are at higher risk due to unclean lens cases. Diagnosis involves a sample of the cornea, and antifungal eye drops are prescribed. Prevention includes proper sanitization of contact lenses and cases, hand washing, and avoiding touching the eyes.
A person with a fungal eye infection usually experiences blurred vision, redness, and pain. Fungal eye infections can also cause sensitivity to light and watery eyes. The symptoms of a fungal eye infection are often consistent with other eye problems, such as pink eye and bacterial eye infections. Fungal eye infections often cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone due to these similarities. A person who is experiencing extreme eye irritation, particularly if they wear contact lenses, should see their eye doctor right away to confirm or rule out the presence of a fungal infection.
Anyone can develop a fungal eye infection, but people who wear contact lenses may have a higher risk than people who don’t. This is because the environment inside contact lens cases that contain the contact solution is often conducive to fungal growth, particularly if the lens case is not kept clean. Some research also suggests that wearing contact lenses for an extended period of time without removing and cleaning them daily could also increase your risk of developing a fungal eye infection. People who have had any type of eye surgery or eye injury also tend to have a slightly higher risk of developing eye fungus than others.
An eye doctor may attempt to diagnose a fungal eye infection based on a person’s symptoms or by scraping the surface of their cornea for a sample. This sample is then examined in the laboratory for the presence of fungi. Once the presence of eye fungus is confirmed, antifungal eye drops may be prescribed to treat the infection. If the patient wears contacts, she will typically be advised to refrain from wearing them until the infection has cleared up. It is of the utmost importance that a person who suspects they have a fungal eye infection has her symptoms evaluated immediately, because untreated eye fungus could lead to loss of vision.
There are a few things that can be done to prevent fungal eye infections from occurring. Proper sanitization of contact lenses and the cases that contain them is recommended, as well as hand washing before inserting and removing contact lenses. Many people are also advised to avoid touching their eyes with their hands whenever possible, because the germs and fungi that cause infection often start on the hands and travel to the eyes through rubbing or scratching. Regular eye exams are also recommended so that any eye problems can be caught early and quickly addressed before they become serious.
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