Eye infection? Delaying a medical visit may affect your vision permanently. University of Michigan researchers followed more than five hundred patients over a three-month period to identify risks that could be easily managed with early treatment. One type of infection, microbial keratitis is a preventable cause of blindness but delaying treatment is one factor in lasting vision impairment. Researchers say it is common in rural areas for people to get something their eye that could lead to infection. Early symptoms may include eye pain, severe eye redness and blurry vision. Unfortunately, many ignore these warning signs which can make the problem worse. The research is published in the journal Ophalmology.