Keratitis

What is keratitis?

Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea that is most often caused by infection. However, surgical trauma or penetration of an object into the eye can also cause this inflammation. It is a disease that can affect anyone, but people with low immune defenses (caused by diseases such as HIV) and those who wear contact lenses are at higher risk.

Keratitis treatments change depending on the factor that caused the corneal infection.

Symptoms of keratitis

Keratitis is a disease that always presents symptoms and is unmistakably noticeable. Generally, the most common symptoms are:

  • Intense eye pain
  • Photophobia (intolerance to light)
  • Hyperemia (red eyes)
  • Abundant tears
  • Disturbance of vision (blurred vision)
  • Perception of a foreign body in the eye

What are the causes of keratitis?

Rather than causes, in this case it is better to speak of risk factors: in fact, any breakage or superficial trauma of the cornea can develop keratitis. In addition, the use of contact lenses (in cases of poor hygiene or inadequate solutions), decreased quality and quantity of tears, immune disorders, special drugs (such as corticosteroids) or chemotherapy increase the likelihood of contracting this disease.

Treatments for keratitis

Treatments for keratitis change depending on the factor that caused the corneal infection. The inflammatory process can be bacterial, fungal, protozoal, viral and ulcerative: in general, eye drops, pills or intravenous treatments are prescribed and the external organisms are eliminated. Let us now see in detail what treatment is prescribed depending on the cause of the infection:

  • Bacterial keratitis. Often related to poor hygiene and maintenance of contact lenses, it can also occur in case of corneal abrasions and the use of makeup contaminated by bacteria. Antibacterial medications are prescribed and, in more severe cases, oral antibiotics.
  • Viral keratitis. It can be of two types, herpetic or adenovirus: the first can cause chronic inflammation of the cornea and, in more severe cases, can lead to glaucoma or even blindness; the second, less severe, is characterized by a punctual opacity. Both are treated with eye drops and antiviral drugs and represent a type of keratitis that may recur in the future.
  • Fungal keratitis. It is a very rare type of keratitis and is very dangerous as it can cause permanent blindness if not treated in time. More frequent in immunocompromised subjects, it is treated with eye drops and oral antifungal drugs.
  • Acanthamoeba keratitis. Caused by a parasite that is difficult to treat, which in severe cases may require a corneal transplant.
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Which specialist to contact?

The specialists who treat keratitis are ophthalmologists.