Fungal Eye Infections and Some Common Fungi That Can Cause Them

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that while fungal eye infections are extremely rare, they can be very serious and can be caused by many different types of fungi. The following information is sourced from the CDC’s website. Types of fungal eye infections Fungal infections can affect different parts of the eye. • Keratitis is an infection of the clear, front layer of the eye (the cornea). • Endophthalmitis is an infection of the inside of the eye (the vitreous and/or aqueous humor). There are two types of endophthalmitis: exogenous and endogenous. Types of fungi that cause eye infections While there are many different types of fungi that can cause eye infections, common types include: • Fusarium – a fungus that lives in the environment, especially in soil and on plants • Aspergillus – a common fungus that lives in indoor and outdoor environments. • Candida – a type of yeast that normally lives on human skin and on the protective lining inside the b