Infectious eye diseases, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic conditions, often cause unilateral or asymmetric visual loss in children and working-age adults. These conditions, which can be common or rare, collectively contribute significantly to the global visual burden. Diagnosis is challenging, and many presentations are highly regional. Globalization has made understanding transmission modes and geographic distribution crucial for clinicians. However, infectious eye diseases are often underrepresented in global prevalence studies focused on bilateral disease in older adults. The true impact of these diseases on global disability is not well captured, and they are frequently misdiagnosed as immune-mediated diseases. Since infectious eye diseases are preventable and often affect younger individuals, they should be considered separately in future prevalence studies, including disability-adjusted life years (DALY) estimates. The control of ocular infections relies on collaborative efforts beyond ophthalmology, involving vaccination, antibiotic development, healthcare, vector control, mass drug administration, and environmental hygiene. Remote telemedicine can aid diagnosis in resource-poor areas, but enhanced global reporting networks and artificial intelligence systems may be necessary for effective disease surveillance and monitoring. The anticipated impacts of global warming, conflict, food poverty, urbanization, and environmental degradation will likely exacerbate the importance of infectious eye diseases.Infectious eye diseases, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic conditions, often cause unilateral or asymmetric visual loss in children and working-age adults. These conditions, which can be common or rare, collectively contribute significantly to the global visual burden. Diagnosis is challenging, and many presentations are highly regional. Globalization has made understanding transmission modes and geographic distribution crucial for clinicians. However, infectious eye diseases are often underrepresented in global prevalence studies focused on bilateral disease in older adults. The true impact of these diseases on global disability is not well captured, and they are frequently misdiagnosed as immune-mediated diseases. Since infectious eye diseases are preventable and often affect younger individuals, they should be considered separately in future prevalence studies, including disability-adjusted life years (DALY) estimates. The control of ocular infections relies on collaborative efforts beyond ophthalmology, involving vaccination, antibiotic development, healthcare, vector control, mass drug administration, and environmental hygiene. Remote telemedicine can aid diagnosis in resource-poor areas, but enhanced global reporting networks and artificial intelligence systems may be necessary for effective disease surveillance and monitoring. The anticipated impacts of global warming, conflict, food poverty, urbanization, and environmental degradation will likely exacerbate the importance of infectious eye diseases.