What are eye infections?

Eye infections are when germs or tiny bugs go inside your eyes and make them feel icky and uncomfortable.

Imagine your eye is like a cozy house for your brain. Normally, it's clean and happy. But sometimes, bad guests, like bacteria, viruses, or even fungi, sneak in through the door (your eyelid) or window (your tear ducts). Once they're inside, they start throwing a party that makes your eye feel sore, red, and maybe even swollen.

• Redness is like when your face turns pink after crying, your eye is telling you it’s upset.
• Swelling feels like your eyelid is puffier than a marshmallow in hot chocolate.
• Discharge might come out, like when your nose runs, but from your eye!
• Sometimes, crusty bits form on your lashes, like the leftover snack crumbs after a big meal.

These icky feelings can be caused by things like not washing your hands before touching your eyes or sharing something with someone who has an infection. But don’t worry, just like you can clean up a messy room, you can treat eye infections too!