You wake up. Your eyes are watering, or worse yet, crusted over. You look in the bathroom mirror to see that the whites are now red. Then, the itching begins. The lights are too bright, and your eyes look puffy and swollen. What’s going on? Eye inflammation has many causes, but these symptoms are the most common ones you’ll encounter.

A trip to your eye doctor will determine what is causing the inflammation, and that will guide your treatment. Here are the likely causes of the irritation:

• • Uveitis: Inflammation affects the uvea, the middle tissue of the eye, which includes the iris. If left untreated, it can cause vision loss. Factors that can lead to inflammation: autoimmune issues like lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, or it can be a side effect of medication. This is often an urgent condition requiring a medical professional’s assistance.
  • Keratitis: This infection affects the cornea of the eye and can also lead to vision loss if left untreated. Misuse of contact lenses is often a cause of keratitis.
  • Conjunctivitis: Also known as pinkeye. This infection affects the thin, clear membrane covering the white part of your eye (turning it pink) and is caused by either a virus or bacteria. It often brings a thick discharge with it, can cause a burning sensation, and it can be contagious. Getting treatment is important, which can include steroid eye drops, antibiotics, or over-the-counter pain medication — it all depends on the nature of the conjunctivitis!
  • Blepharitis: Affecting the eyelid itself, blepharitis is a non-contagious type of bacterial inflammation that can appear as flakes on eyelashes, much like dandruff. Treatment can include using baby shampoo to keep your eyelashes clean, antibiotics, or eye drops.
  • Scleritis: Often very painful, scleritis inflammation affects the white part of your eye and may cause severe, piercing pain with eye movement. It usually affects middle-aged women (45-60) who have autoimmune issues.

Treatments:

The first order of business — before you see your eye doctor — is to keep your eyes clean by using a heated damp cloth for each eye (to prevent any cross-contamination in the event of a bacterial infection). Baby shampoo can help with any crustiness that has formed from discharge, and the warmth eases pain. Over-the-counter pain medications can help in the short term until proper medication is prescribed.

As inflammation of the eyes can lead to vision loss if left untreated, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to get relief.