Keratitis

by Sam Malone

Keratitis is a condition of the eye in which the cornea is inflamed due to a direct injury or an infection. There are two main types of keratitis: infectious and noninfectious. Keratitis caused due to bacteria, fungus and virus is more common than the noninfectious kind. There are several microbial species that may cause keratitis. Keratitis is also often referred to as corneal ulcers.

Causes of Keratitis

There are two main ways in which one may get keratitis. A direct injury or trauma to the eyes is the most common noninfectious method of getting keratitis. Those who participate in contact sports are more prone to developing noninfectious keratitis. Injuries due to sticks and thorns while going to forest or ambling in the wilderness may also result in keratitis. Prolonged or incorrect use of contact lenses may also cause keratitis.

While you may get keratitis through an infection, it cannot be spread from one person to another. Infectious keratitis is more common in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. While bacterial keratitis may be common, fungal and viral keratitis are both very rare conditions. Contact with contaminated water can increase the risk of developing infectious keratitis.

Risks of Developing Keratitis

Here are some of the factors that increase the risk of developing keratitis.

Use of Contact Lenses: Those who wear contact lenses are more prone to developing both infectious and noninfectious keratitis. Carelessness with contact lenses, such as improper storage and cleaning before wearing them, can also increase your risk of developing corneal ulcers.
Reduced Immunity: As with any other infection, reduced immunity makes you more prone to developing infectious keratitis. You need to take care of your eyes when your immune system is compromised or you are under medication that makes your immune system weaker.
Risk of Injuries: Those whose work involves a greater risk of injury to the face or eyes, such as welding, contact sports, and carpentry, are more prone to developing keratitis, especially if they do not wear proper protection gear.
Corticosteroids: The use of eye drops or cosmetics containing corticosteroids may increase your risk of developing keratitis, or worsen the severity of existing keratitis.
Climate: There is a higher likelihood of spread of infection in places with higher temperatures. Maintaining proper hygiene in such climates is extremely essential otherwise there is an increased risk of developing keratitis.

Symptoms of Keratitis

The symptoms of keratitis are usually very easy to identify. Here are some of them.

Redness: Though this is also a symptom of conjunctivitis, redness in eyes could also indicate keratitis.
Pain: Since there is an injury or ulceration in the eye, you may experience a significant amount of pain. Depending on the severity of the injury or ulceration, the pain may be mild to severe.
Vision Problems: Since the cornea has a major role to play in vision, keratitis may cause a blurring of vision. You may also experience sensitivity to light because of the injury to your cornea.
Discharge and Tearing: The damage to the eyes can cause tearing. In some cases, when the damage to the cornea is severe, there could be a white or yellow colored discharge from the eyes as well.

Treatment of Keratitis

The treatment of keratitis usually depends on whether it is infectious or noninfectious. Noninfectious keratitis can be treated with the help of medicated eye drops and an eye patch. In case of infectious keratitis, the doctor will prescribe medications according to the type of infection. Usually, infectious keratitis can be treated with the help of antibacterial, antiviral or antifungal eye drops, depending on the type of infection you are suffering from.

References:

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