Eye infections can affect any part of the eyes, from the eyelids to the cornea, and even the retina in the back of the eye. Eye infections are so common that most of us either have had an eye infection or know someone who has had one. Eye infections can be bacterial, viral, or fungal. People who wear contact lenses are particularly susceptible to eye infections due to the decrease in oxygen reaching their corneas and due to bacterial or fungal buildup caused by failure to properly disinfect their contact lenses.