Did you know keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, is the main cause of corneal blindness from infection in the UK? This fact highlights the importance of knowing about this serious eye condition. It also shows why getting medical help quickly is key.
Keratitis is when the cornea, the clear part at the front of the eye, gets inflamed. It might or might not have an infection. Minor injuries, like wearing contact lenses too long, can cause it. But infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites can also lead to it.
If keratitis isn’t treated, or if the infection is bad, it can cause serious problems. These problems might harm your vision forever.
Key Takeaways
- Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye.
- It can be caused by infections or non-infectious factors like eye injuries.
- Symptoms include red eye, pain, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.
- Prompt medical treatment is crucial to prevent permanent vision damage.
- Proper contact lens hygiene and avoiding eye injuries can help prevent keratitis.
Overview of Keratitis
Keratitis is when the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, gets inflamed or irritated. It can happen due to many reasons, both infectious and non-infectious. If not treated, it can cause serious problems. Knowing the different types and their causes is key to managing and preventing it.
What is Keratitis?
Keratitis is when the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped part at the eye’s front, swells up. This can cause pain, redness, and blurry vision. If not treated, it could even lead to permanent vision loss.
Types of Keratitis
Keratitis can be either infectious or non-infectious. Infectious keratitis is caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi. Non-infectious keratitis can be due to injury, UV light exposure, or eye conditions like dry eye.
- Infectious Keratitis: This is when microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi invade the cornea. Common culprits include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Acanthamoeba, and herpes simplex virus.
- Non-Infectious Keratitis: This type is caused by non-microbial factors like corneal injuries, too much UV light, or eye conditions like dry eye. It’s not contagious unless an infection follows.
Keratitis is a big problem in the UK, leading to corneal blindness. Quick diagnosis and treatment are vital to avoid serious issues and keep vision intact.
Symptoms of Keratitis
Common Symptoms of Keratitis
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea. It can cause eye redness, pain, and a feeling of something in the eye. People may also feel light sensitivity, have watery eyes, and see things blurry. The severity of these symptoms depends on the cause of keratitis.
Eye redness is a key sign of keratitis. The inflammation makes blood vessels on the eye’s surface swell. This can make the eye look red and feel gritty.
Eye pain is another symptom. It can feel like a dull ache or sharp stabs. Light can make this pain worse, causing sensitivity to bright lights. Excessive tearing is also common as the body tries to clear the irritation.
Blurred vision is a common complaint. The inflammation can make it hard for the eye to focus light. This can lead to poor vision, making everyday tasks difficult.
The symptoms can help doctors figure out what’s causing keratitis. Getting medical help quickly is important to manage the condition and avoid complications.
Causes of Keratitis
Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea. It can come from many causes. Knowing what causes it helps find the right treatment. The main causes are infectious and non-infectious.
Infectious Causes of Keratitis
Infectious keratitis happens when harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites get into the cornea. This can cause inflammation and serious problems if not treated. Common causes include:
- Viral infections, like herpes simplex and varicella-zoster (chickenpox)
- Bacterial infections, often from bad contact lens use and include Staphylococcus and Streptococcus
- Fungal infections, usually from eye trauma or dirty contact lenses
- Parasitic infections, like Acanthamoeba, which are rare but hard to treat
Non-infectious Causes of Keratitis
Keratitis can also come from non-infectious reasons. These include:
- Corneal injury, like being poked or scratched
- Dry eye syndrome, causing irritation and inflammation
- Foreign bodies in the eye, leading to abrasions and inflammation
- Too much ultraviolet (UV) light, from sun or tanning beds
- Bad contact lens use, like wearing them too long or at night
- Certain health conditions, like immune system problems or vitamin A deficiency, that can cause inflammation
Using contact lenses can raise the risk of keratitis, both infectious and non-infectious. So, it’s key to keep lenses clean and well cared for to avoid problems.
| Cause | Prevalence | Risk Factors | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corneal injury | Significant | Finger pokes, fingernail scratches | Antibiotic eye drops, rest, and monitoring |
| Bacterial infection | Less frequent but more common with improper contact lens use | Poor contact lens hygiene | Antibiotic eye drops |
| Fungal infection | Rare, associated with eye trauma and contaminated contact lenses | Eye trauma, improper contact lens care | Antifungal eye drops and oral medication |
| Parasitic infection (Acanthamoeba) | Very rare, more common in contact lens wearers | Improper contact lens hygiene | Challenging to treat, may require corneal transplant |
Risk Factors for Keratitis
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea. It can be caused by many risk factors. Knowing these is key to preventing and managing it well.
Contact lens use is a major risk. Wearing them wrong or not caring for them properly can lead to keratitis. Studies show contact lens wearers are more likely to get ulcerative keratitis than non-users.
A weakened immune system is another big risk. People with autoimmune disorders or HIV/AIDS are more likely to get keratitis. Their immune system is not strong enough to fight off infections.
Using corticosteroid eye drops also raises the risk. These drops are used for many eye problems. But they can weaken the immune system and make the cornea more open to infections.
- Eye injuries or trauma are also a risk. Damage to the cornea can let infections in, raising the chance of keratitis.
- Jobs that expose you to dust, chemicals, or foreign objects can also increase your risk. These can irritate or infect your eyes.
Knowing these risks helps prevent keratitis or get help early if symptoms show. Regular eye exams, good contact lens care, and managing health issues can lower the risk of this serious eye problem.
Complications of Untreated Keratitis
Keratitis left untreated can cause serious problems. These include chronic inflammation, scarring, and even blindness. The risks are high and can affect your vision and eye health for life.
Corneal scarring is a major issue. It can lead to permanent vision loss. The amount of scarring determines how much your vision will be affected. Recurrent infections of the cornea, like those from herpes simplex virus, can make things worse.
In severe cases, keratitis can cause vision loss or blindness. Corneal ulcers from untreated keratitis can damage the eye permanently. This can severely affect your vision. The risk of blindness is especially high with parasitic keratitis.
It’s vital to catch keratitis early and treat it quickly. This helps avoid long-term problems and keeps your eyes healthy. Not treating keratitis can lead to serious consequences. So, seek medical help if you notice any symptoms.
Diagnosing Keratitis
Eye doctors can spot keratitis during a detailed eye exam. Sometimes, they might take a corneal sample or do a corneal biopsy to find out why keratitis is happening.
Viral keratitis is often caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Tests in the lab can show if HSV-1 is present. Gram stain is used to find microorganisms in keratitis samples. Culture methods like thioglycollate broth culture and sheep blood agar help confirm bacteria and fungi.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are common bacteria causing keratitis. Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Candida species cause fungal keratitis. Confocal microscopy is a non-invasive way to see the cornea and diagnose keratitis, especially in hazy corneas.
| Diagnostic Method | Application |
|---|---|
| Gram Stain | Detecting microorganisms in keratitis samples |
| Culture Methods | Confirming the presence of bacteria and fungi |
| Confocal Microscopy | Visualising the cornea and diagnosing keratitis |
| Molecular Techniques (PCR, NGS) | Diagnosing viruses or complex organisms in keratitis cases |
Molecular techniques like PCR and NGS are improving in diagnosing infectious keratitis. Metagenomic NGS is very sensitive and specific, even when cultures are negative.
The positive rate of corneal scraping cultures for diagnosing infectious keratitis is between 38% and 66%. Testing for antimicrobial resistance takes 48 hours. Smartphones with high-resolution cameras can help with slit lamp imaging in ophthalmology. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used for monitoring corneal pathologies like infectious keratitis.
Treatment of Keratitis
The treatment for keratitis depends on the cause. For non-infectious keratitis, mild cases might need artificial tear drops. These help with discomfort and healing. But, severe cases might need a bandage contact lens and anti-inflammatory eye drops to reduce swelling.
For infectious keratitis, treatment includes antibiotic, antiviral or antifungal eye drops. Sometimes, oral medication is also given to fight the infection well.
Treatment for Non-infectious Keratitis
Mild non-infectious keratitis is often treated with artificial tear drops. These drops help with pain, tearing, and discomfort. For more severe cases, a bandage contact lens and anti-inflammatory eye drops are used to protect the eye and aid healing.
Treatment for Infectious Keratitis
Infectious keratitis treatment involves antibiotic, antiviral or antifungal eye drops. Sometimes, oral medication is added to help fight the infection. Quick and correct treatment is key to avoid serious problems like permanent vision loss.
If keratitis doesn’t respond to medication or leads to permanent corneal damage affecting vision, a cornea transplant might be recommended by the eye care provider.
Prevention of Keratitis
Keeping your eyes healthy is key to avoiding serious problems like keratitis. Two main ways to do this are by keeping your contact lenses clean and preventing viral outbreaks.
Contact Lens Hygiene
Looking after your contact lenses is vital. Use only clean products, change them as advised, and don’t wear them in water. Always wash your hands before touching your lenses to stop infections.
Preventing Viral Outbreaks
Stay away from touching your eyes if you have a cold sore or herpes. This can spread the virus to your eyes. Also, only use eye drops given by a doctor and wash your hands often to lower the risk of viral keratitis.
By taking these steps, you can greatly lower your chance of getting keratitis and keep your eyes safe.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Seeing a doctor quickly is key if you have keratitis symptoms like eye redness, eye pain, or vision changes. Waiting too long can cause serious problems, like losing your vision. If you see these signs, go see an eye specialist right away.
Spotting keratitis early and treating it right is crucial. Ignoring symptoms or trying to fix it yourself can make things worse. It can even harm your eyes permanently. So, get professional help as soon as you notice any eye issues.
An eye doctor will do a detailed check to find out why you have keratitis. It could be an infection, injury, or another health issue. Knowing this helps them create the best treatment plan for you.
Acting fast and getting medical help for keratitis can greatly improve your eye health. Don’t wait to book an appointment with an eye doctor if you’re worried about your eyes.
Conclusion
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea. It can be caused by infections or other factors. Knowing the symptoms like redness, pain, and vision problems is key.
It’s also important to understand the risk factors. This knowledge helps in preventing keratitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid serious issues.
Healthcare professionals use various methods to diagnose keratitis. These include slit-lamp exams and lab tests. They help find the cause and choose the right treatment.
Good eye health is essential. Proper contact lens care and seeking medical help for eye issues are important. These steps help protect your eyes from keratitis and other problems.
FAQ
What is keratitis?
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped tissue at the front of the eye. It covers the pupil and iris. Keratitis may or may not be caused by an infection.
What are the main types of keratitis?
Keratitis is mainly divided into two types. Infectious keratitis is caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi. Non-infectious keratitis is caused by injury, dryness, inflammation, or too much UV light.
What are the common symptoms of keratitis?
Symptoms of keratitis include eye redness and pain. You might feel a foreign body in your eye. You could also have sensitivity to light, watery eyes, blurred vision, and decreased vision.
What are the infectious causes of keratitis?
Infectious keratitis is caused by viruses like herpes simplex and chickenpox. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, parasites, and fungi can also cause it.
What are the non-infectious causes of keratitis?
Non-infectious keratitis can be caused by injury to the cornea. It can also be caused by dryness, inflammation, foreign bodies, too much UV light, or improper contact lens use.
What are the risk factors for developing keratitis?
Risk factors for keratitis include wearing contact lenses, especially if you sleep in them or don’t clean them properly. A weakened immune system, using corticosteroid eye drops, and a previous eye injury are also risk factors.
What are the complications of untreated keratitis?
Untreated keratitis can lead to serious complications. These include chronic inflammation and scarring of the cornea. It can also cause frequent or recurrent viral infections, corneal ulcers, and temporary or permanent vision loss. In severe cases, it can even cause blindness.
How is keratitis diagnosed?
Eye doctors diagnose keratitis during a comprehensive eye examination. Sometimes, a sample of the corneal surface is taken using a cotton swab or a corneal biopsy. This helps identify the cause of the keratitis.
How is keratitis treated?
Treatment for keratitis depends on the cause. For non-infectious keratitis, mild cases may be treated with artificial tears. Severe cases may need a bandage and anti-inflammatory eye drops. For infectious keratitis, treatment includes antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal eye drops. In severe cases, oral medication may be prescribed.
How can keratitis be prevented?
To prevent keratitis, proper contact lens hygiene is key. Use only sterile products, replace lenses as recommended, and avoid wearing contacts while swimming. To prevent viral outbreaks, avoid touching your eyes if you have a cold sore or herpes blister. Use only prescribed eye drops and wash your hands well.
When should someone seek medical attention for keratitis?
Seek medical attention at the first signs of keratitis, such as eye redness, pain, discomfort, or vision changes. Delaying diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious complications, including vision loss. An eye specialist should be consulted immediately if you experience any symptoms of keratitis.
