Keratitis

Keratitis is an eye condition caused by inflammation of the cornea, the clear dome-shaped front part of the eye that covers your pupil and iris. Corneal inflammation can result from dry eye syndrome, ocular surface disease, eye injury, corneal infection or even overwearing your contact lenses, and can result in sight-threatening complications if not treated promptly.

Symptoms of Keratitis

Keratitis can affect one or both eyes, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call to make an appointment with DOCTOR as soon as possible.

• Eye pain
• Whites of your eyes appear red
• Excessive tearing or other ocular discharge
• Inability to open your eye
• Eyes feel gritty or sore
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Decreased vision
• A feeling that something is stuck in your eye

Causes of Keratitis

There are four main types of keratitis:

1. Infectious keratitis can develop when bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi enter the cornea following an eye injury, from wearing a contaminated contact lens, or overwearing contact lenses. A common cause of infectious keratitis is the herpes simplex virus.

2. Non-infectious keratitis can develop following a corneal abrasion or other mild corneal injuries, if foreign particles such as grains of sand or specks of dust get into the eye, or from overwearing contact lenses.
3. Superficial punctate keratitis occurs when cornea cells begin to die as a result of:

• • A viral or bacterial eye infection
  • Dry eye syndrome
  • Ocular surface disease
  • Extended contact lens wear
  • Chemicals in the eye
  • UV light exposure
  • Allergic reaction to eye drops
  • Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
  • Bell’s palsy
  • Side effect of certain medications

4. Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is diagnosed when corneal inflammation leads to the formation of ulcers on the corneal surface. This type of keratitis is usually very painful and commonly caused by an autoimmune disorder like rheumatoid arthritis, but it can also result if the previous forms of keratitis are not fully treated.

Keratitis Treatments

Treatment will depend on the type of keratitis you are diagnosed with:

• Non-infectious keratitis can often be treated with artificial tears eye drops. However, if your condition is severe, your eye doctor may prescribe topical medications and recommend that you wear an eye patch.
• Infectious keratitis and superficial punctate keratitis are generally treated with medicated eye drops or oral medication, depending on the cause and severity of your condition.
• Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is generally treated with medications to treat the corneal ulcer, suppress the immune system and treat the underlying cause of the keratitis. Eye drops may be prescribed for hourly use for several days, and painkillers may be required to manage any pain. To determine the exact cause of the ulcer, your eye doctor may perform a corneal scraping, also known as a corneal culture procedure, to collect corneal cells from the surface of your eye.

In cases where medications are unsuccessful in treating the keratitis, corneal surgery, such as a corneal graft or transplant, may be warranted to prevent vision loss and protect the eye itself.

However, surgery alone cannot resolve the underlying inflammatory process or prevent recurrence of the inflammation.

If you suspect that you have keratitis, contact Opthalmology Practice Name today to schedule an eye exam. We will thoroughly assess your condition and recommend the most effective treatment plan. We are conveniently located in LOCATION1 and are happy to discuss any concerns you have about your eye health and vision.

Our practice serves patients from CITY 1, CITY 2, CITY 3, and CITY 4, and surrounding communities.