In some cases, keratitis can be serious and affect your vision.
Infectious keratitis is because of bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of keratitis.
Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell
It also addresses ways to prevent it.
Keratitis Symptoms
The first symptom of keratitis is usually redness and pain in the eye.
Normally only one eye is affected, but in some cases, the condition can affect both eyes.
Is keratitis an emergency?
Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment of microbial keratitis are necessary to prevent severe loss of vision.
Most cases of keratitis can be treated without loss of vision.
What Is the Main Cause of Keratitis?
Keratitis is classified into two types: infectious or noninfectious.
The cause of the keratitis determines its key in.
Noninfectious
The following conditions may lead to noninfectious keratitis:
Is eye keratitis contagious?
A complete eye examination may not be necessary.
Your healthcare provider will use aslit lampto get an excellent view of the inside of your eye.
A slit lamp can also help your healthcare provider identify irregularities or ulcers of the cornea.
If your healthcare provider suspects an infection, lab testing may be needed.
A sample obtained from your eye can help identify what has caused the infection.
A vision test may also be performed to confirm vision loss has not occurred.
Ifdry eye syndromemay be causing your keratitis symptoms, your healthcare provider will perform the Schirmer tear test.
A small strip of paper will be inserted into the corner of your eye to measure moisture.
Once a proper diagnosis has been made, your treatment can begin.
How Is Keratitis Treated?
Treatment of keratitis depends on the cause of the condition.
Noninfectious keratitis, such as a corneal scratch or other injury, may not require any treatment.
In some cases, a protective eye patch may be worn to protect the eye during healing.
In most cases, moisture is improved by the use of artificial tears and lubricating ointments.
Treatment of infectious keratitis will focus on controlling the underlying cause of the infection.
Some cases of infectious keratitis are resistant to many forms of medication.
If your eye is permanently damaged, your healthcare provider may recommend having a corneal transplant.
Try not to touch or rub your eyes.Lubricating eye dropscan help ease the symptoms of keratitis.
Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s advice about wearing, cleaning, and storing your contact lenses.
It is diagnosed by your healthcare provider with an eye exam and using a slit lamp.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What causes bacterial keratitis.
University of Michigan Health System.Dendritic keratitis (herpes simplex keratitis).
