Keratitis is a condition in which the cornea becomes swollen or inflamed, which makes the eyes red and painful and affects vision. Keratitis is also known as a corneal ulcer.
Some types of keratitis can include infections, such as bacterial keratitis, viral keratitis, fungal keratitis and parasitic keratitis. People who wear contact lenses should remember that infectious keratitis can happen because of insufficient care for contact lenses.
The non-infectious form of keratitis can be due to a scratch from a nail or if you wear contact lenses for way too long.
Symptoms include:
- Red eyes
- Pain in the eyes
- Tearing
- Pain or irritation, which makes opening the eyelid difficult
- Burning, itching or feeling of sand in the eyes
- Swelling around the eyes
- Feeling of a foreign body in the eye
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Reasons can include:
- Bacterial infection
- Viral infection
- Fungal infection (from plant material in the eye)
- Parasitic infection
- Improper cleaning or care for contact lenses
- Wearing of contact lenses for too long
- Injuries
Treatment of the disease depends on the type and severity of the problem. Antibacterial or antifungal eye drops can be used to treat infections of the cornea. Sometimes, steroid eye drops can be needed to decrease the inflammation of keratitis.
If the cornea is seriously impaired, a corneal transplant may be needed to regain vision.