Eye infections in babies may stem from a variety of causes and can strike at any time during infancy. Some babies may come into contact with bacteria or viruses during their passage through the birth canal and develop an infection this way. Others may incur damage to the eye or naturally develop a problem as the eye grows and changes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an eye infection depend on the cause of the infection, according to Baby Center. Signs of an infected eye in a baby can include teary eyes, redness or pinkness in the eye, and swelling of the eyelid. The baby may have a white, watery or yellow discharge from the eye. He may also rub or press on the eye to try and ease itchiness or pain or may simply be irritable.
Causes
A common cause of eye infections in babies is conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eyelids that can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. A blocked tear duct or allergies may also cause an infected eye in an infant. Other less-common sources of infant eye infections include blepharitis, periorbital cellulitis, a sty or a chalazion. Sometimes, an infection of the eye will be accompanied by or result from physical damage to the eye.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the specific cause of an eye infection, a doctor will first perform an eye exam. If a basic eye exam reveals any potential problems, the doctor may then take a sample of any discharge coming from the baby's eye and send it to a lab to be cultured. This can determine if a bacterial or viral infection is present. The doctor may also use a slit-lamp, a device that gives a 3-D image of the eye, to look for any damage to the eyeball itself.
Treatment
After diagnosing an eye infection in an infant and determining the cause, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial infection or an antiviral medication for some virus-caused infections. These will typically be delivered via eye drops or with an ointment to be spread on the baby's eye. Other types of eye drops may also be recommended, including saline drops to clean out sticky or crusty drainage or lubricating drops to ease dryness caused by an eye infection. For a blocked tear duct, massage of the inner corner of the eye may be performed, according to Medline Plus.
Complications
Most infants who receive prompt treatment for an eye infection recover quickly and have no lasting problems. Without treatment, however, some potential complications may occur, including scarring or tears in the cornea, swelling of the iris or blindness.
