Keratitis: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition of keratitis

Keratitis is a condition when parts of your cornea become inflamed or infected. The cause can be due to a viral, bacterial, fungal infection, or it could be due to an eye injury.

Keratitis is a type of eye infection most often experienced by people who wear contact lenses. This condition causes the eyes to feel sore, reddish, and tends to be sensitive to light.

If you experience red eyes or other symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Mild to moderate cases can usually be treated effectively without permanent vision problems.

Conversely, if left untreated, or if the infection is severe, this condition can cause serious complications that can cause you to permanently lose your vision.

Symptoms of keratitis

People who experience keratitis will usually experience red, watery, sore, and sensitive eyes. In addition, quoted from the Mayo Clinic, here are other common symptoms and signs of keratitis:

• Tears or excessive rubbing of the eye
• Difficulty opening your eyelids due to pain or irritation
• Blurred vision
• Decreased eyesight
• The feeling that something is in your eye

When should you see a doctor?

Immediately visit the nearest clinic if you experience the symptoms mentioned above. Especially if you experience it suddenly. If left untreated, keratitis due to bacterial infection can lead to blindness.

Cause

What are the causes of keratitis?

The cause of keratitis can be due to a viral, bacterial, fungal infection, or it could be due to an injury to the eye. Here's the explanation:

1. Viruses

One of the viruses that can cause keratitis is the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Quoted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there are two types of HSV that can cause you to get keratitis:

• Type I, which is the most common virus and usually infects the face
• Type II, which is a virus that is spread through sexual contact and infects the genital area

HSV type I is highly contagious and is usually transmitted through physical contact. Nearly a 90% chance of having been infected with the virus in childhood.

2. Bacteria

The types of bacteria that cause keratitis are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial keratitis usually occurs due to the use of contact lenses, especially worn lenses.

This condition can also be caused by an eye injury. Injury occurs when an object scratches or injures the surface of your cornea. In this case, keratitis will not be contagious.

However, when an injury causes germs, including bacteria, to enter the damaged cornea, it causes a contagious strain.

3. Mushrooms

The fungus that usually infects the cornea is Fusarium, Aspergillus, or Candida. You can become infected with yeast from eye injuries or wearing contact lenses.

Apart from bacteria, viruses, and fungi, other microorganisms that can cause keratitis are Acanthamoeba. This type is a rare, but serious, infection that can cause vision loss or blindness.

Risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of developing keratitis include:

• Using contact lenses prolonged periods, especially while sleeping, can increase your risk of developing non-infectious or infectious keratitis.
• Impaired immunity disease or drugs can also make you more likely to develop this condition.
• Consumingcorticosteroids to treat eye disorders can increase the risk of developing infectious keratitis or worsen an existing condition.
• Experience eye injury which results in damage to the cornea of ​​the eye also makes you more likely to develop keratitis.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to diagnose this condition?

The doctor will ask you what symptoms you are experiencing. Then, the doctor may perform the following tests:

• Eye examination, which includes assessing how sharp your eyesight is.
• Examination with a flashlight, to check your pupil reaction, size and other factors.
• Examination slit-lamp, to detect the character and extent of keratitis, as well as its effect on other eye structures.
• Laboratory analysis, which is the step taken after the doctor has taken a tear sample or some corneal cells. This examination is useful to help find the right treatment.

What are the treatment options for keratitis?

Inflammation of the cornea caused by an injury, such as habitual rubbing of the eyes, may not require special treatment. Usually, red or sore eyes that you feel will go away on their own as the eyes gradually heal.

If necessary, you only need eye drops to speed up the healing.

However, if keratitis causes deeper infection of the cornea of ​​the eye, it can leave a scar that should not be underestimated.

If allowed to continue, these injuries can damage vision or even cause blindness. To prevent this, go to the nearest eye doctor as soon as possible to treat eye infections due to keratitis.

The following are some of the keratitis treatment options:

1. Artificial tears

The way to treat eye infections due to keratitis that are classified as mild is to use artificial tears. This type of treatment works by increasing the amount of fluid in the eye while reducing the evaporation of tears. That way, the burning and redness in the eyes will slowly decrease.

These artificial tears can come in the form of drops, ointments, or gels. Well, you can choose it as needed. If your eye pain is mild and you are looking for a medicine that is easy and comfortable to use, then drops can be the right choice.

The choice of eye drops must also be adjusted to the cause of your keratitis. If the condition is caused by a fungus, you will need eye drops that are antifungal in nature.

To treat eye infections that are classified as severe, you may need medication in the form of an ointment or gel. This type of medicine should be used at night because it has a thicker texture and can make vision blur for a moment.

2. Antibiotics and antiviral

Drinking antibiotics are used to treat eye infections due to moderate to severe bacterial keratitis. This type of drug works to fight bacteria and eliminate infections in the eye.

Antivirals can be used to treat mild keratitis. However, there is no drug that can completely treat the herpes virus that causes keratitis. Once the body has a virus, you cannot get rid of it.

3. Corneal transplant

Corneal transplants can be performed to treat eye infections due to keratitis acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba is a type of parasite that can make the cornea inflamed and tends to be difficult to cure.

As a first step, you can actually treat this eye infection with eye drops that contain antibiotics. But unfortunately, several types of parasites acanthamoeba tend to be resistant to treatment.

When it cannot be treated or causes permanent damage to the cornea, doctors will recommend a corneal transplant as a last resort.

The damaged cornea will be removed and replaced with healthy corneal tissue from the donor eye. Gradually, your eyes will return to clear and clearer to see.

Prevention of keratitis

One important step to prevent this condition is to pay attention to the use and cleanliness of contact lenses. Take the tips below as a precaution:

• Use daily contact lenses and take them off when you sleep.
• Wash hands and dry hands before touching contact lenses.
• Follow the eye doctor's recommendations for treating contact lenses.
• Use sterile products to care for contact lenses.
• Change your contact lens case at least every three to six months.
• Do not wear contact lenses when you are swimming.

Meanwhile, keratitis caused by viruses cannot be completely avoided. However, you can follow the tips below to control transmission:

• Avoid touching the eyes, eyelids and skin around the eyes before washing hands.
• Use the eye drops your doctor prescribes.
• Wash your hands diligently to prevent the spread of the virus.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.