Eye infection treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

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Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, a doctor on Maple will be able to offer eye infection treatment options, but only after they’ve confirmed the condition and offered an eye infection diagnosis.

Eye infections symptoms can be similar to those caused by allergies, so the doctor may suggest you visit a clinic to confirm your eye infection diagnosis before suggesting an eye infection prescription.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe eye infection medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Eye infections are viral or bacterial infections that affect the eye itself, or the tissues immediately surrounding the eyes.

This can include the eyelid, the cornea, the uvea, or the conjunctiva, and they can affect one or both eyes. Some forms of eye infections are very contagious, and extra care must be taken not to infect other people (or your other eye, if only one eye is affected).

The most common types of eye infections include:

• Conjunctivitis (also called “pink eye”)
• Blepharitis
• Keratitis
• Stys
• Cellulitis
• Uveitis
• Endophthalmitis
• Ocular herpes

Eye infections occur most frequently in children and young adults.

The eye infection symptoms you experience could depend on the type of eye infection you’ve got.

The most common signs of an eye infection to watch for include:

• Burning or itching in your eyes
• Tenderness around the eye or eyelid
• Eyes won’t stop tearing up
• Feeling like something is in your eye, but you can’t get it out
• Pain or discomfort in or around the eyes
• Small, painful lumps around the eyelashes or eyelid
• Swollen eyelids
• Red or purple eyelids
• Green or yellow discharge from the eyes
• Vision changes or loss
• Crusty eyelashes or eyelids, especially in the morning
• Red or pink in the white portion of your eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Oiliness around the eyelid
• Swollen lymph nodes near your ear
• Difficulty wearing contacts
• Fever

Most frequently, viral, bacterial, and occasionally fungal infections are the causes of eye infections. These can be contracted from other contagious people or picked up from contaminated surfaces and transferred into the eye through touch.

Eye irritation and eye allergies can also be considered causes of eye infections because they make infection more likely.

In some cases, contact lenses can contribute to eye infections, if they aren’t cleaned properly or if they’re worn for extended periods (longer than recommended).

Additionally, touching your eyes with unwashed or contaminated hands can also be the cause of eye infections.

Typically, a doctor will examine your affected eyes and try to determine whether the infection is caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, or whether your symptoms could be caused by allergies.

They do this by evaluating your medical history, current symptoms and checking on the condition of your eyes. After they’ve determined the cause of your symptoms, the doctor may offer an eye infection diagnosis.

Viral eye infections, as well as mild bacterial infections, can resolve on their own, and there are some self-care eye infection treatments you can use to soothe your eye infection symptoms, such as:

• Applying a cool compress for 10-15 minutes, several times a day to relieve swelling, itching, and pain
• Using over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears to soothe eyes and treat symptoms
• Applying a warm, damp compress to help clear crusting

Serious bacterial infections and fungal infections may require prescription eye infection medications such as antibiotics to stop the infection from worsening and allow the healing process to begin.

Many viral eye infections will resolve by themselves in a week or two. You should contact your doctor if the signs of an eye infection persist for an extended period, or if any of your symptoms become severe.

This is especially true if you begin to have colored discharge draining from your eyes or if it begins to affect your vision. Some forms of eye infections can cause permanent damage to your eye or vision if they’re left untreated.