Keratitis refers to the inflammation of the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the iris in your eye. Keratitis can also sometimes lead to a corneal ulcer. While keratitis is a fairly common condition and can be treated, it is known to cause significant visual impairment and even blindness.
In this blog, we are going to discuss some common keratitis symptoms, types, causes, prevention tips, and treatment options.
Keratitis Symptoms
Before we dive into essential prevention tips, here’s a list of some commonly experienced keratitis symptoms:
- Eye strain and pain
- Red, bloodshot eyes
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Difficulty opening eyelids
- Gritty feeling in eyes
Types of Keratitis
Some common types of Keratitis are as follows:
- Bacterial keratitis: This is the type of keratitis that’s caused by bacteria. This is the most common type of keratitis.
- Parasitic keratitis: This is the type of keratitis that’s caused by a single-celled parasite called an amoeba.
- Fungal keratitis: This is caused by fungi that are most commonly found in plants.
- Viral keratitis: Viruses that cause shingles and herpes simplex can also cause keratitis.
Causes of Keratitis
Besides infectious keratitis, here are some common causes for non-infectious causes of keratitis:
- Eye injury (this includes physical trauma to the eye, either due to an injury, surgery, or a condition where your eyelashes constantly scrape the surface of your eye)
- A foreign object in your eye
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Overuse of contact lenses
- Too much exposure to UV light
- An eyelid disorder or compromised immune system causing dry eyes
How to Prevent Keratitis
You can reduce your chances of developing keratitis by:
- Practising good hand hygiene
- Wearing contact lenses for shorter durations or only as per a specialist’s instructions
- Avoiding swimming or bathing with contact lenses on
- Wearing protective eyewear during sports activities
- Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes against UV light
Keratitis Treatment
Here are some keratitis treatment options based on the severity and type of the condition:
- Lubricant eye drops – mild keratitis
- Medication – infectious keratitis
- Antibiotic eye drops – bacterial keratitis
- Antifungal eye drops – fungal keratitis
- Antiviral eye drops – viral keratitis
- Steroid eye drops – corneal swelling
- Oral medication – advanced keratitis
- Corneal transplant – severe keratitis (corneal scars and damage)
When to Visit a Doctor?
You must consult a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms listed above. You can schedule an appointment at Sohana Eye Hospital and consult the best eye specialist in Chandigarh for keratitis treatment. Prevention is always better than cure, but if you find yourself afflicted by keratitis, you can rest assured that Sohana Eye Hospital’s dedicated team of expert ophthalmologists will provide you with the best care and most affordable treatment in the city.
