Eye Infections
Viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections of the eye and potentially serious complications of allergies and infections, especially conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, are serious issues.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by an allergic reaction and turn into a chronic problem.
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea - which is composed of the iris (colored portion of the eye that surrounds the pupil), the ciliary body (muscle behind the iris that helps change the shape of the lens to focus light on the retina), and the choroid layer (lining of the eye that contains blood vessels). Uveitis causes eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and spots in the field of vision. Untreated, the condition can cause permanent vision loss or complications such as glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment.
Another potentially blinding eye infection, cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV retinitis), is caused by an impaired immune system that makes the eye vulnerable to a variety of eye infections. CMV retinitis is a viral infection of the light-sensitive part of the eye.