What increases my risk of having a bacterial eye infection?

Most infections around the eyes are caused by the bacteria on patients' skin. Ophthalmologist and Sharecare Advisory Board member David Demartini, MD, describes why normal bacteria can cause eye infections in this video.

Transcript

00:00

Infections in the lid, we call blepharitis, is probably the most common reason why people have recurrent infections in their eyes.

00:09

And again, it's a hygiene problem. [UPBEAT MUSIC]

00:22

Most infections around the eye come from the patient's own bacteria.

00:28

Our skin are covered in bacteria and we learn to live with it because our immune system is

00:35

so good in controlling that. Occasionally, though, the infection can get inside and get started on the conjunctiva.

00:45

The conjunctiva is usually sterile. It's the cleanest part of our body.

00:51

And fortunately, it's probably because our tear film and our tear mechanism work so well that it's constantly flushing and moving

01:01

fresh tears across the eye and keeping things clean. Infections in the lid, we call blepharitis,

01:08

is probably the most common reason why people have recurrent infections in their eyes. And again, it's a hygiene problem

01:16

because people often don't want to clean around their eyes in the way that we would normally

01:22

clean the rest of our body. [AUDIO LOGO]