Keratitis

Keratitis General Information

The term refers to all Keratitis (inflammations) found on the cornea. This disease, of which there are many kinds, can be of bacterial, viral, fungal infection and allergic cause. This disorder is a condition of the cornea, which is home inflammatory or infectious. Depending on the location of the condition, it is necessary to distinguish between two forms of this kind of disease: The ulcerative one has an important characteristic: the damage that it causes to the upper layers of the cornea. There are many possible causes for the occurrence of the ulcerative type. The most common are the injuries, due to the penetration of a foreign body. The action of ultraviolet rays on the cornea can also cause an ulcerative one. This type of trauma is caused by sunlight or by exposure to an electric arc welding. There is the possibility of one or more viral infections to occur (herpes, shingles etc). These are also likely to cause the appearance of ulcerative type, like the herpetic ones. The ophthalmic zoster is a frequently repeated ulcerative type of this disease. The adenovirus conjunctivitis is also another source of ulcerative type. Inadequate tear secretion (insufficient tears) sometimes leads to the emergence of so-called dry Keratitis associated with poor eyelid closure. The corneal ulcerations are consequences of this type of pathology. These wounds are more or less profound. The interstitial type of this disease is the second type of Keratitis that may arise. This variety of the disease only affects the lower layers of the cornea. The causes of this type of interstitial disease are various, although this disorder is essentially caused by a virus. Symptoms that are similar to those of allergic reactions are also part of interstitial type of this disease.

Keratitis Symptoms

The pain often dominates. The cornea contains numerous nervous nets. In its normal state it is very sensible. If you touch your cornea with a foreign object you will probably experience pain, even if your eye is not damaged at all. The pain is even more vivid if the surface of the cornea is damaged. Studies have shown that the eye’s cornea contains from 40 to 60 times more nets nervous that the pulp of teeth. Other symptoms that are present in the case of various patients who have been diagnosed with this medical condition include: a decrease in vision, and tearing. The pain makes light hardly bearable (a sign / symptom also known as "photophobia") and the mere opening of the eyelids is difficult: they are very fragile. All causes of conjunctivitis can also trigger Keratitis. If cornea and conjunctiva are suffering, the medical condition is called “kerato-conjunctivitis”. The lack or poor quality of tears can damage the cornea, which is no longer protected enough. If the eyes are too dry, the damage to the cornea can be severe. If the superficial types are under contact lenses, holders should be advised of this risk, because in the absence of treatment, complications can be very serious. For example, if an abscess cornea appears, the visual effects are possible. The chemical attack can cause damage to the corneal surface. This is the case of patients who experience a symptom called tear gas. It is recognizable by its heavy smell which can become unbearable for some as it can pique the nose and may be an irritant. The symptoms of Keratitis can be eased by keeping a high hygiene of the affected areas. In general, the types of this disease which are related to the tear gas can be healed more easily if the patient is granted fast clinical treatment.

Keratitis Treatment

The severity of Keratitis can worsen in any time, and that is why a doctor must be called or visited when the symptoms appear, because the pain can grow and your vision can disappear in time. The doctor will give the adequate treatment for the patient depending on the severity of the symptoms. The ophthalmologists and the optometrists are the most suitable to give a diagnosis and to prescribe the best treatment for each patient who suffer from an eye medical condition (including Keratitis). The disorder has superficial types and advanced ones. Treatment consists in the instillation of eye drops or ointment – this should allow healing in a few days. A targeted analgesic, like atropine, is necessary. A regular monitoring of the patient is imperative. Other useful therapies include the use of artificial tears (if the patient experiences dry eyes). The treatment associated with an antiviral good penetration eye (5 times per day) and an atropine is more useful. To reduce pain, there are several solutions. One is to put a bandage that will keep the eye closed.

Other therapy options include the use steroids, local or general – they are administered under strict supervision. In case of anterior segment or in the event of severe herpetic Keratitis, treatment with acyclovir general (15 to 30 mg per kg per day) is associated. In case of a puncture of corneal surgery, an under cover antibiotic and antiviral is required. A cold surgery can be considered if the scar has a significant visual acuity. The possibility of recurrence on the graft is always possible because the reservoir of the virus is swelling. In case of infectious ones, an antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral treatment is needed. Using steroids to treat this disease may give some corneal perforations, or even corneal ulcerations. There are several types of scars which can lead to visual loss (the patient can even loose the eye). In case of the irreparable loss of the corneal clarity, a transplant is needed. If a corneal transplant is required for interstitial Keratitis, compared with transplants made for other corneal diseases, the efficiency is very small. The transplanted cornea can be rejected because of the white blood cells which are present in the blood vessels from the affected cornea. It is more efficient if the treatment starts earlier. Usually, the risk of another infection is very high because the virus still remains in the patient’s body. The importance of observing the symptoms on the first phases is imperative, because the treatment also aims to prevent permanent eye damages.