Eye infection treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

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.

With Maple, you can start talking to a doctor about your symptoms in a matter of minutes. We’re a healthcare platform for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

Simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll immediately connect you to a doctor via live chat or video. You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Our doctors can assess symptoms and provide treatment, including prescriptions as necessary.