Eye inflammation

If your eye turns red, there is sometimes a chance that you are dealing with an eye infection. An eye infection can have various causes. Usually when you have a cold, you can also suffer from an eye infection. In this article we will look at what an eye infection is and what you can do about it.

What is an eye infection?

When you suffer from an eye infection, the conjunctiva of your eye is inflamed. This is the transparent mucous membrane on top of your eye. In most cases, an eye infection is caused by a cold virus. However, it can also be caused by a bacterial infection.

How do I recognize an eye infection?

Recognizing an eye infection is not too difficult. There are a number of symptoms that you may experience, namely:

• Red eyelids
• The whites of the eyes are red
• Tears
• Mucus or pus on the inside of the eye
• Burning sensation in the eye
• Eyelids stick together
• Itching in the eye
• Thick skin around the eye

If you suffer from an eye infection, it does not necessarily have to be in one eye. This is because both eyes can be inflamed at the same time.

Can I do something about it myself?

If you have an eye infection, it is best to wait until it goes away. You can carefully try to remove the mucus and/or pus from the inside of your eye with a cotton swab or cotton pad with some tap water. The best way to do this is to stroke from the outside of your eye to your nose.

You can wear sunglasses when there is a lot of light. This ensures that you don't just close your eyes. It is also important not to wear eye makeup. To prevent the inflammation from spreading to the other eye, it is best not to rub your eyes and wash your hands regularly.

Can the pharmacist do anything for me?

Your GP can sometimes prescribe medication if you are dealing with an eye infection. You can get these medications from the pharmacist. You will often receive direct advice about the use of the medications and information about any side effects.

Which medications are used for eye infections?

The GP usually prescribes artificial tears. This is a type of eye ointment or eye drops that is easy to use. This can significantly reduce the symptoms of eye inflammation.

Antibiotics are often not necessary for an eye infection. However, in special cases your GP will prescribe this to you. This only works for a bacterial inflammation of the eye.

Can I buy medicines online?

It is possible to get the medicine against an eye infection online. It is often necessary to have the prescription with you. This allows you to order medicines online instead of having to go to the pharmacist yourself.

Buy medicines without a prescription

Buying medicine for an eye infection without a prescription is usually not possible.