Staph Infection in the Eye

Staphylococcus Aureus or Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a kind of bacteria. The name means golden cluster seed when translated from Greek to English. It is a spherical bacterium and a cause of many staph infections. It is a part of the skin flora, that is, the micro organisms residing in our skin. So, staph bacteria are found in our skin and near the area of our nose.

MRSA can cause a lot of illnesses ranging from minor skin infections to life threatening diseases like meningitis, septicemia, endocarditis and so on. Similarly, it can also effect the eyes, which has the potential to hamper eye vision very seriously. Staph infection in the eye can cause abnormal growth in your eyes, leading to pain, swelling and redness.

Here is a brief low down on MRSA infection in eyes.

Staph Infections in Eyes

Styes
Styes refers to a staph infection affecting the tear glands along the bottom of the eye lashes. Styes is a yellowish growth along the affected area coupled with pain, watery eyes, tenderness, itching and swelling.

Dacryocystitis
Here also the tear glands are affected, but the location of the tear glands and the manifestation of the infection is different. Dacryocystitis is a state where the tear glands at the corner of the eye are affected and a yellow or red swollen and painful mass develops in the inside corner of the eye. Its basically a blocked tear duct which needs to be cleared.

Periorbital Cellulitits
Periorbital cellulitis affects the eyelids and all around an eye. It causes inflammation all over the eyelids and the area around an eye. A raised bright red skin develops as a result of periorbital cellulitits.

Orbital Cellulitis
This is a severe version of cellulitis. Apart form being red and being painfully swollen, the eye movement is restricted in this condition. The worst part is that its most often than not accompanied by a fever.

Endogenous Endopthalmitis
It is one of the rare staph infections that affect the white of the eye, although its equally serious as the other staph infections in eye. If not taken care of properly, it could result in blindness. In endogenous endopthalmitis, all over the eye there is a raised, red growth, that is painful, which is the stage before blindness.

Bleb
A large blister, purple red in color is formed as a result of the staph infection, in case of a wound or incision around the eye. This is called a bleb and it is filled with liquid, and is painful if you touch it.

These were the types of staph infections in the eye. If you were scared knowing about these various eye problems occurring due to staphylococcus aureus, don't be because these infections are not incurable. They can be dealt well with a combination of different forms of treatment.

For instance, styes can be treated by using, or rather applying warm compress to the affected area. This will lead to the rupture of the stye and if it does not rupture on its own by this method, then doctor's consultation is needed. The doctor could lance the drain by using local anesthesia. Antibiotic or steroid ointments are sometimes prescribed to treat a stye. This holds true for any other kind of staph infection in the eye. Another course of treatment is dosage of antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor.

How to Prevent Staph Infection

• Adhering to very simple precautionary measures, can prevent staph infections not just in the eye but anywhere in the body. The first and foremost thing you can do to avoid staph infection is to maintain a good level of hygiene.
• Washing hands frequently can do the trick.
• Keep a disinfectant handy for cleaning those surfaces of your home which are frequently handled by everyone.
• Incase of woulds and cuts, make sure that they are not open. Cover your wounds and bandage them properly.
• If you are suffering from a staph infection in a hospital, ensure that everyone touching you has washed his or her hands.
• If you have been asked and prescribed to take antibiotics, then take the full dosage even if you feel better.

So the next time you feel you might be having a staph infection in your eye, make sure you consult a doctor and prevent damage to your eyes. Consultation with an eye care specialist is advised in this regard.

Now, you are well equipped to fight staph infection, isn't it? Go ahead and don't let the staph hit you with infection. Take proper eye care!