Keratitis

Keratitis is a serious eye condition that causes inflammation in the cornea. The cornea is the clear, outer layer of the eye. This inflammation can come from infections, injuries, or health issues. If not treated, it can cause eye pain, vision problems, and even damage.

It’s important to know the symptoms of keratitis to get timely treatment. Signs include red eyes, pain, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. Knowing the causes helps protect your eye health and get the right medical care.

Treatment for keratitis varies based on the cause. For infections, specific medicines are needed. Non-infectious cases might get anti-inflammatory drugs or other treatments. With the right care, most people can recover fully and keep their vision healthy.

What is Keratitis?

Keratitis is a condition where the clear surface of the eye, called the cornea, gets inflamed or infected. This surface is key for focusing light and protecting the eye. When keratitis strikes, it can lead to pain, redness, and vision issues.

There are different types of keratitis, each with its own causes and risks. Infectious keratitis comes from germs like bacteria and viruses. Non-infectious keratitis can be caused by injuries, toxic substances, or autoimmune disorders.

The severity of keratitis varies based on the cause and damage to the cornea. Common signs include:

Getting a quick diagnosis and treatment is vital to avoid serious problems like scarring or vision loss. Treatment depends on the cause and may include medicines like antibiotics or corticosteroids. Preventive steps, like good hygiene and protective eyewear, can also help prevent keratitis.

Common Symptoms of Keratitis

Keratitis symptoms can vary based on the cause. But, there are common signs to watch for. If you notice these symptoms, seek medical help quickly to protect your vision.

Eye Redness and Irritation

Eye redness is a common symptom of keratitis. The eye might look bloodshot or have a pinkish color. You might also feel irritation, itching, or a burning sensation.

Eye Pain and Discomfort

Keratitis often causes eye pain or discomfort. This pain can be mild or severe. You might feel like something is stuck in your eye, even if nothing is there. The pain can get worse when you blink or move your eye.

Blurred or Decreased Vision

As keratitis gets worse, vision can become blurry or decrease. You might have trouble focusing or see things as hazy or cloudy. Untreated keratitis can lead to significant vision loss.

Sensitivity to Light

Light sensitivity, or photophobia, is another symptom. Bright lights, like sunlight or indoor lights, can cause discomfort or pain. Wearing sunglasses or dimming lights can help.

The severity and how long symptoms last can vary. The table below shows symptoms for different types of keratitis:

If you notice these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Seeing an eye care professional quickly can prevent complications. It can also help avoid long-term issues like corneal scarring or vision loss.

Causes of Keratitis

Keratitis can be caused by infections or non-infectious factors. Knowing the cause is key to choosing the right treatment.

Infectious Keratitis

Infectious keratitis happens when harmful germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites attack the cornea. Common germs include:

• Bacteria: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas species
• Viruses: Herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and adenovirus
• Fungi: Aspergillus, Candida, and Fusarium species
• Parasites: Acanthamoeba

Wearing contact lenses, eye injuries, weak immune systems, and poor hygiene can increase the risk of getting infectious keratitis.

Non-Infectious Keratitis

Non-infectious keratitis can be caused by different things, like:

• Eye injury: Physical trauma, chemical burns, or foreign bodies in the eye
• Autoimmune disorders: Such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or Sjögren’s syndrome
• Contact lens complications: Overuse, improper cleaning, or ill-fitting lenses
• Vitamin A deficiency: Leading to corneal dryness and damage
• Exposure to UV light: Causing corneal inflammation, common in welders and skiers

Knowing the causes of keratitis helps in early detection and treatment. This can prevent complications and keep your eyes healthy.

Risk Factors for Developing Keratitis

Many things can raise your risk of getting keratitis. Knowing these risk factors is key to preventing and catching it early. One big risk is wearing contact lenses wrong. Not cleaning or replacing them often can cause infections.

Having a weak immune system also ups your risk. This can be due to illness or medicines that lower your immune response. When your body can’t fight off germs, your eyes are more open to infection.

Eye injuries, like small scratches, can let germs in. Even tiny cuts can break down the eye’s shield, letting infections in. Always see a doctor right away if you hurt your eye, no matter how small it is.

Eye problems like dry eye or blepharitis can also lead to keratitis. These issues can irritate and weaken the eye, making it easier for infections to start.

Being around dirty water or too much UV light can also increase your risk. It’s important to protect your eyes in dangerous places. Avoid swimming or using hot tubs with contact lenses in.

Knowing about these risks and taking steps to avoid them can lower your chance of getting keratitis. If you’re worried about your risk, talk to your eye doctor.

Diagnosing Keratitis

Getting a quick and right keratitis diagnosis is key to treating it well and avoiding worse problems. If you think you might have keratitis, your eye doctor will do a full eye examination. This helps figure out what’s wrong and how serious it is.

Eye Examination

Your doctor will look closely at your eyes with a slit-lamp examination during the eye examination. This special tool lets them see the cornea, iris, lens, and more in detail. It helps spot problems like inflammation, ulcers, or foreign bodies that might be causing keratitis.

Laboratory Tests

Sometimes, laboratory tests are needed to find out what’s causing keratitis. Your doctor might take a small sample from your cornea. These corneal scrapings are then checked in a lab. They might do:

• Gram stain and culture to find bacteria
• Viral culture or PCR testing for viral keratitis
• Fungal culture or smear for fungal keratitis
• Sensitivity testing to find the best treatment

By looking at what the eye examination and laboratory tests show, your doctor can accurately diagnose keratitis. Then, they can plan a treatment that fits your specific case.

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Treatment Options for Keratitis

Keratitis treatment varies based on the cause. Doctors will choose the best treatment based on the type and severity of keratitis. This can include antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal medications, or corticosteroids.

Antibiotics for Bacterial Keratitis

Bacterial keratitis is treated with antibiotics. These can be eye drops, ointments, or pills. The antibiotic used depends on the bacteria causing the infection. Common antibiotics include:

Antiviral Medications for Viral Keratitis

Viral keratitis, often from herpes simplex virus (HSV), is treated with antiviral meds. These can be eye drops, ointments, or pills. Trifluridine is a common treatment for HSV keratitis. It’s given as eye drops every 2 hours while awake for 7-14 days.

Antifungal Medications for Fungal Keratitis

Fungal keratitis needs antifungal meds. These can be eye drops, ointments, or pills. The choice depends on the fungus causing the infection. Common treatments include:

• Natamycin eye drops
• Amphotericin B eye drops or injectable
• Voriconazole eye drops or oral pills

Corticosteroids for Non-Infectious Keratitis

Non-infectious keratitis, like from autoimmune disorders or eye injuries, may use corticosteroids. These are eye drops like prednisolone acetate or dexamethasone. But, corticosteroids must be used carefully by an eye doctor. They can make infectious keratitis worse if not used right.

Complications of Untreated Keratitis

Not getting medical help for keratitis can cause serious problems. These problems can hurt your vision forever. It’s important to know the risks and get help quickly.

Corneal Ulcers

Untreated keratitis can lead to corneal ulcers. These are open sores on the cornea. They cause a lot of pain, light sensitivity, and a white spot on the eye.

If not treated, these ulcers can scar the cornea. This can make your vision worse.

Corneal Scarring

Corneal scarring is another risk of untreated keratitis. The infection can damage the cornea, creating scar tissue. This scar tissue can block light and reduce your vision.

Vision Loss

In severe cases, untreated keratitis can cause permanent vision loss. The infection can damage the cornea, leading to scarring and poor vision. In some cases, the damage is so bad that it causes blindness.

Getting medical help for keratitis quickly is key. It helps avoid these serious problems and keeps your vision safe.

Preventing Keratitis

Keratitis prevention is key to keeping your eyes healthy. It helps avoid a serious condition. By following simple steps, you can lower your risk of keratitis.

Proper contact lens care is vital. If you wear contacts, clean and disinfect them as directed. Always wash your hands first. Don’t wear them too long and replace your lens case often. Never use tap water to clean your lenses.

Wearing eye protection is also important. When doing activities that might harm your eyes, wear safety glasses or goggles. This is critical in jobs like construction, manufacturing, or healthcare.

Don’t rub your eyes. Rubbing can introduce bacteria and irritants, raising your infection risk. If your eyes itch, use artificial tears or a cold compress instead.

Regular eye exams are essential. See your eye doctor yearly, even if you feel fine. This helps catch problems early and treat them right.

Good health and a strong immune system also help. Eat well, sleep enough, and exercise. If you have health issues, manage them with your doctor.

By focusing on contact lens care, wearing protective eyewear, avoiding eye rubbing, getting regular eye exams, and staying healthy, you can lower your keratitis risk. Enjoy healthy, comfortable eyes for years.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Keratitis Symptoms

If you notice eye pain, redness, irritation, or vision changes, seek medical help right away. These signs could mean an infection or inflammation in your cornea. If not treated, it could lead to serious eye damage.

Don’t delay if symptoms persist, and they’re accompanied by eye pain or vision changes. Your eye doctor will check your eyes to find out what’s wrong. They might prescribe antibiotics, antiviral meds, antifungal meds, or corticosteroids.

Your vision is very important. Getting medical help early can save your eye health and prevent serious problems. If you wear contact lenses, take them out and don’t wear them until your doctor says it’s okay. Quick action and following your doctor’s advice can protect your eyes and keep your vision clear.