Bacterial keratitis is an infection of the cornea. It usually develops quickly. It is usually caused by contact lens wear or eye injury. Left untreated it can cause blindness. If you wear contact lenses, proper care will lower your risk of developing a keratitis infection. If you have any of these symptoms,

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. Warm compresses and sometimes antibiotic ointment or eye drops may be used to treat blepharitis. Blepharitis is an ongoing (chronic) condition. You can keep its symptoms under control by keeping your skin, hair and eyelids clean every day. If you have any questions

Conjunctivitis (often called "pink eye") is when the clear tissue covering the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids gets red, swollen and sticky. It can spread easily among people when caused by a virus or bacteria. Sometimes pink eye is due to an allergic reaction. In some cases, an

Contact lenses are used to correct vision without glasses. If contact lenses are not cared for properly, you risk getting an eye infection. Symptoms of contact-lens related infections include blurry vision, eye redness and light sensitivity. If you have any of these symptoms, call your ophthalmologist. If

A corneal abrasion is a scratch, scrape or cut on the surface of your cornea. Corneal erosion is when the top layer of cells on your cornea (epithelium) loosens from the layer under it. Sometimes a corneal abrasion can lead to corneal erosion. Both conditions are painful and make your vision blurry or

The normally round cornea bulges outward in people with keratoconus or with a condition called ectasia after refractive surgery. A treatment called corneal cross-linking may help. Corneal cross-linking uses eye drops and UV light to strengthen the cornea’s collagen fibers. It usually stops the cornea

Corneal dystrophies are rare diseases that run in families and progress slowly over many years. With corneal dystrophies, abnormal material builds up in the cornea. This can cause blurred vision or even loss of vision. Corneal dystrophies may be treated with eye drops, ointments or special contact lenses.

A corneal laceration is a cut on the cornea. They are usually caused by something sharp flying into the eye. A corneal laceration needs to be treated right away to avoid vision loss. Surgery is usually needed to prevent further damage to the eye and to remove any foreign objects from the eye. After surgery,

Corneal transplant is surgery that replaces a damaged or diseased cornea with a healthy donor cornea. There are different types of corneal transplants. In some cases, only some layers of the cornea are replaced with new tissue. Sometimes, the entire cornea must be replaced. Recovering clear vision may

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea. It usually results from an eye infection. See your ophthalmologist immediately if you think you have a corneal ulcer. They can permanently damage your vision and even cause blindness if they are not treated. Eye drops are usually the treatment of choice.

Tears keep your eyes healthy and comfortable. Dry eye is when you do not produce enough tears or the right type of tears. Your ophthalmologist might suggest using artificial tears or ointments. They may also prescribe eye drops that treat your dry eye symptoms or help your eyes make tears. Other treatment

Excessive tearing is when your eyes make too many tears, or tears don’t drain properly. Treatment can include removing an object that is irritating the eye (such as an inturned eyelash), or using eye drops or ointment to keep the eye moist. In some cases, surgery may be needed to fix an injured or

Eyelid spasms are when your eyelids move involuntarily (out of your control). An eyelid twitch or tic is a quick movement of the lid. It is usually related to being tired or stressed. It can also come from having too much caffeine. An essential blepharospasm is when one or both of your eyelids close

Certain cells pump fluid from our cornea to keep it clear. With Fuchs’ dystrophy, these cells gradually die and fluid builds up. The cornea gets swollen and puffy, and over time, vision becomes cloudy or hazy. Early treatment may include using a hair dryer to blow warm air on your face, drying your

Fungal keratitis is an infection of the cornea. It can develop quickly from an eye injury or contact lens use. It can cause blindness if it is not treated. Proper use and care of contact lenses can reduce your risk of getting a fungal infection. Treatment of fungal keratitis usually includes antifungal

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is when the inside of your eyelid gets red, swollen, and irritated. This is usually caused by contact lenses. Treatment may include avoiding wearing contact lenses, trying a new type of lens, or limiting how much time you wear contacts each day. You may also be prescribed

Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism) is a problem with the thyroid gland. It is when the thyroid gland makes too much hormone. Muscles and tissue around the eye are affected. People with Graves’ disease may have retracted eyelids or bulging eyes. They can suffer from dry eye and double vision. Artificial

Herpes keratitis is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The infection can be transferred to the eye by touching an active lesion (a cold sore or blister) and then your eye. Almost everyone is exposed to the HSV during childhood. After the original infection, it lies

Herpes simplex is a virus that can infect your skin, nerves and tissue. If it infects your eyes, they become red, sore and sensitive to light. Vision can become blurry. The herpes virus cannot be cured, but herpes simplex eye symptoms must be treated right away. You may be prescribed antiviral eye drops

With keratoconus, the cornea thins and bulges out like a cone, affecting vision. Keratoconus treatment depends on your symptoms. With mild symptoms, eyeglasses can correct your vision. With more severe symptoms, there are other treatment options that can include hard contact lenses, medication or surgery.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissue. Marfan syndrome can affect many different parts of the body. Eye problems are common in people with Marfan syndrome. Most people with Marfan syndrome have myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. More than half of people

Pinguecula and pterygium are growths on the conjunctiva of your eye. Pinguecula is a yellow spot or bump on the conjunctiva, often on the side of the eye near your nose. A pterygium is a fleshy growth that may start as a pinguecula. It can grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. Both are believed

A pterygium (pronounced “ter IDJ ee um”) is a wedge-shaped bump of fleshy tissue that grows on the white of the eye. It may begin to grow toward the center of the eye, over the cornea. This common eye condition is also known as “surfer’s eye” or “farmer’s eye.” This is because pterygia

Rosacea is an ongoing (chronic) skin disease that causes your face to flush red. If your eyes are affected, they can be red and watery, and feel irritated and painful. Treating the eye symptoms of rosacea may include using steroid eye drops and ointments to reduce redness and swelling. Antibiotics might

Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus. It can cause eye problems with symptoms such as a rash on the eyelids, “pink eye”, cornea problems, blurry vision, pain and swelling inside the eye. Treatment is focused on relieving the rash, swelling and pain. Placing cool, moist compresses over your

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects your eyes, mouth, and your joints. Symptoms include dry eyes, blurry vision, light sensitivity, dry mouth, and pain in your joints. To diagnose Sjögren’s syndrome, your ophthalmologist may examine your tears, your eyelids, and order blood

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is when your immune system attacks the muscles and tissues surrounding your eyes. This pushes the eye forward and causes the eyes to bulge. TED can also cause dry eye and double vision. You can reduce symptoms by using lubricating eye drops, wearing sunglasses, and quitting

Trachoma is an eye infection affecting both eyes. It is the world’s leading cause of infectious blindness. If the infection is untreated, scarring occurs inside the eyelid. This leads to the eyelashes turning inward toward the eye. The eyelashes brush and scratch against the cornea. This continual

Trichiasis is a common eyelid problem. With trichiasis, eyelashes grow inwards toward the eye. The lashes rub against the cornea, the conjunctiva, and the inner surface of the eyelids. This irritates the eye. Anyone can develop trichiasis, although it is more common in adults. Eye infection, swelling