Ophthalmologists and optometrists are trained to recognize various eye infections by the appearance of the surface of the eye and the retina, the progress of the disease, whether it's in one eye or both, and your medical history. There's a wide range of lighted devices for looking at the cornea and retina.

If there's pus or discharge from the eye, it can be cultured to identify the organism. Quite possibly, you'll also be tested for common diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes simplex.

You should see your doctor or eye care professional if you have:

• eye pain, altered vision, or severe redness of the eye
• recurring eye problems
• eye problems along with a chronic condition such as diabetes

You should also see your doctor or eye care professional if:

• you have been treating symptoms yourself for 48 hours and no improvement is noted
• the condition worsens with treatment
• the condition has lasted longer then 48 hours without treatment