Eyes are among the most important organs in the human body as they allow one to see things. But like most body parts, eyes are also susceptible to different ailments which can be very painful. As the human eye is a highly sensitive organ, any injury or ailment affecting it can be very painful and requires immediate medical attention. One such ailment is eye inflammation.

What is eye inflammation?
Eye inflammation is usually caused by an infection from virus or bacteria, but in many cases, the inflammation can be non-specific. The infection is identified based on the part of the eye that has been affected i.e. conjunctiva, cornea, eyelid or the uvea. If left unattended, eye inflammation can result in serious consequences. Therefore, it is advisable to visit a specialist as soon as the symptoms of inflammation in the eye are observed. In certain cases, the patient can suffer from acute pain as well as poor eyesight.

When the eye is inflamed, one can observe the inflammation around the eye. In most cases, the inflammation of the eye is not a threatening situation but in certain cases, it can pose a threat to the eyesight.

Symptoms of eye inflammation
The term eye inflammation is an umbrella term used to denote the different types of inflammatory conditions that affect different eye parts. The major symptoms of eye inflammation are:

• Burning sensation
• Itching sensation
• Redness in the eye
• Watery eyes
• Swelling in the eye

Causes of eye inflammation
Eyes are one of the entry ports used by pathogens to enter the human body. As a result, there is serious responsibility on the eye to stop the pathogens from entering the body but in some cases, the pathogens manage to enter the eye and lead to inflammation, which results in more germs entering the body. Eye inflammation can be caused by a number of factors, such as:

• Bacterial infection
• Fungal infection
• Viral infection
• Dry eyes
• Hay fever
• Autoimmune disorders
• Environmental irritants such as sunshine or dust particles
• Mechanical irritants such as inward growing eyelashes

Treatment
In order to identify the severity and cause of the inflammation, the doctor will perform a slit lamp examination. This will help in determining the part of the eye that is inflamed and also help in deciding the future course of treatment. The treatment for eye inflammation depends on the cause:

• Bacterial infections: In the case of a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe suitable antibiotic drops.
• Allergic reaction: If the inflammation is due to an allergy, the doctor will prescribe anti-allergic eye drops. One must avoid contact with the allergen as much as possible.
• Viral infections: In case of viral infections, the doctor will prescribe suitable anti-viral eye drops.

If any inflammation is observed around the eye, then one must visit the doctor to decide on the course of treatment without delay.