Bacterial Eye Infections: Signs, Treatment, and When to See a Doctor

Bacterial eye infections can start fast and look alarming. You might get one red, painful eye with thick yellow or green discharge, sticky eyelids in the morning, or blurred vision. Sometimes it’s just the thin tissue over the white of the eye (conjunctivitis). Other times it affects the cornea or even the tissues around the eye. Knowing the difference helps you get the right care quickly.

How to tell if it’s bacterial

Bacterial infections usually cause thick, colored discharge and eyelids that stick together after sleep. Viral infections often bring watery eyes and a runny nose. Allergic reactions make both eyes itchy and watery, but not so much pus. If you have pain when you look around, worsening vision, or high sensitivity to light, tell your doctor right away — that can mean a deeper or more serious infection.

What doctors typically do

Most bacterial eye infections get better with prescription antibiotic drops or ointments. For surface infections like bacterial conjunctivitis, doctors commonly prescribe topical antibiotics to apply several times a day until the infection clears. If the cornea is involved or the infection looks severe, they may use stronger drops or oral antibiotics. Steroid drops like prednisolone are sometimes used when inflammation is heavy, but only under close medical supervision because they can hide problems.

Home care matters while you wait for a clinic visit. Gently clean crust with a warm, damp cloth and throw it away after each use. Use separate cloths for each eye to avoid spreading bacteria. Don’t share towels, pillows, or makeup. If you wear contact lenses, stop using them until a provider clears you — contacts can trap bacteria and make things worse.

Prevention is simple and effective. Wash hands often, avoid touching your eyes, replace eye makeup every few months, and disinfect contact lenses and cases as instructed. If someone close to you has bacterial conjunctivitis, avoid close face-to-face contact until treatment has started and symptoms shrink.

When should you seek urgent care? Go now if you have severe pain, sudden vision loss, an eye bulging or swelling that spreads to your face, or high fever with eye symptoms. Also get prompt care if symptoms don’t improve within 24–48 hours of starting prescribed drops, or if they come back after treatment.

Antibiotics and steroid drops are common tools, but they’re prescribed based on what the doctor finds. If you’re worried about side effects or interactions with other medicines you take, mention that at your visit. Quick treatment usually means faster relief and fewer complications, so don’t wait if your eye feels wrong.