ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Keratitis

What is keratitis?

4 May 2021

It is an eye condition where there is inflammation of the cornea caused by viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infections.

Also, keratitis may not be related to infections, but rather due to eye injuries from wearing contact lenses too long without rest periods or from the effect of debris or objects in the eyes.

It is important to diagnose and attend promptly to minimize damage and avoid serious complications that irreversibly affect sight or even cause its loss.

Signs and symptoms Keratitis

It is characterized by:

  • Eyelid irritation and pain.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Decreased visual ability.
  • Photosensitivity.
  • Feeling that you have a piece of garbage or a foreign object in your eye.
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Eye pain.
  • Teary eyes.

Potential risks:

  • Using contact lenses for long periods.
  • Weakened immune system.
  • Application of corticosteroids.
  • Previous eye damage or injury.

When keratitis is not treated, a series of serious complications can be triggered, such as:

  • Recurrence of corneal infections.
  • Corneal ulcers
  • Temporary or permanent decrease in visual capacity.
  • Chronic inflammatory processes in the cornea.
  • Corneal scarring.
  • Loss of sight.

Diagnosis and treatment Keratitis

Once your ophthalmologist analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform an eye exam to measure your visual acuity and detect any corneal damage you may have. Similarly, a sample of tears or corneal tissue can be taken to identify the source of the keratitis. The treatment will depend on the type of keratitis you suffer from, the intensity of the symptoms, and its direct cause:

Non-infectious:

  • Ophthalmic drugs.
  • Eye patch.

Infectious:

  • Bacterial: ophthalmic and oral antibiotics depending on the severity of the infection.
  • Fungal: ophthalmic and oral antifungals.
  • Viral: ophthalmic and oral antivirals.
  • Parasitic: an antibiotic protocol is followed when it is produced by acanthamoeba, but if this does not work, the option is a corneal transplant.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Keratitis

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • imo.es
  • aao.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Esteriz MN, Taboada TA, Aponte GM, et al. Auriculoterapia en pacientes con queratitis punteada superficial. MediSan. 2020;24(03):396-405.
  • Cueva-Nieves DA, Arana-Gacía M. Queratitis herpética bilateral: Reporte de un caso. Acta Cient Estud. 2010;8(2):45-47.
  • Martínez PS. Rosa de Bengala como mediador en la terapia fotodinámica para tratar la queratitis. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd. 2020;39(4):1-4.
  • Babayán-Sosa A, Baca-Lozada O. Epiteliopatía corneal por alteración sensitiva: queratitis neurotrófica. Rev Mex Oftalmol. 2018;92(3):117-122.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.