Keratitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

The cornea focuses light. Its inflammation is not equivalent to straightforward conjunctivitis. Discharge color alone cannot identify the cause; similar early symptoms can require very different treatment.

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Pain, redness, tearing, a foreign-body sensation and difficulty tolerating light may develop. Vision may blur or a white corneal spot appear. Lack of heavy discharge does not exclude significant disease.

Causes include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, as well as injury, dryness or noninfectious inflammation. Water exposure with lenses, poor cleaning and sleeping in lenses increase selected risks. Treatment depends on the cause.

Poor lens care, injury, dry ocular surfaces, other eye disease and immune suppression increase susceptibility. Unsupervised steroid drops can mask or worsen infection; their use requires a diagnosis and monitoring.

An eye clinician checks visual acuity and examines the cornea with a slit lamp, sometimes using dye or collecting a sample. Report lens use, water exposure, trauma and all drops used. Do not delay for home testing.

Remove contact lenses and do not restart until cleared. Infectious disease may require intensive prescribed drops or other cause-specific treatment and close review. Do not start steroid drops, topical anesthetics or leftover antibiotics without examination; inappropriate treatment can delay control.

Infection may cause an ulcer, scar, perforation or permanent visual impairment and sometimes require surgery. Early treatment improves the chance of recovery but does not guarantee identical outcomes for every cause.

Wash and dry hands before handling lenses, use recommended disinfectant and replace lenses and cases as directed. Do not clean lenses with water or saliva, swim or shower in them, or sleep in them outside specific specialist instructions.