Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping and Prevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping and Prevention
Keratitis is an eye condition in which the cornea—the clear, round dome covering the eye’s iris and pupil—becomes swollen or inflamed, making the eye red and painful. In some cases, keratitis can be serious and affect your vision.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of keratitis. It also addresses ways to prevent it.
Keratitis Symptoms
The first symptom of keratitis is usually redness and pain in the eye. Normally only one eye is affected, but in some cases, the condition can affect both eyes.
Is keratitis an emergency?Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment of microbial keratitis are necessary to prevent severe loss of vision.
Is keratitis an emergency?
Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment of microbial keratitis are necessary to prevent severe loss of vision.
The following symptoms are often associated with keratitis:
If you suddenly develop eye redness or symptoms of keratitis, be sure to see your healthcare provider oreye doctorpromptly. Most cases of keratitis can be treated without loss of vision. However, delays in treatment or a severe infection can lead to serious complications that may permanently damage your vision.
What Is the Main Cause of Keratitis?
Keratitis is classified into two types: infectious or noninfectious. The cause of the keratitis determines its type.
Noninfectious
The following conditions may lead to noninfectious keratitis:
Is eye keratitis contagious?Bacterial keratitis can’t be spread from person to person.In addition, when type I herpes simplex re-activates in the eye and causes viral keratitis, it is not contagious either.
Is eye keratitis contagious?
Bacterial keratitis can’t be spread from person to person.In addition, when type I herpes simplex re-activates in the eye and causes viral keratitis, it is not contagious either.
Infectious
The following can lead to infectious keratitis:
Diagnosing Keratitis
Your healthcare provider will examine your eyes and discuss the symptoms you are experiencing. It may be difficult to open your eye if you have an active infection, but your healthcare provider will be able to help you.
A complete eye examination may not be necessary. Your healthcare provider will use aslit lampto get an excellent view of the inside of your eye. A special stain may be used in order to see any damage that may have already been caused to the internal structures of your eye. A slit lamp can also help your healthcare provider identify irregularities or ulcers of the cornea.
If your healthcare provider suspects an infection, lab testing may be needed. A sample obtained from your eye can help identify what has caused the infection. A vision test may also be performed to make sure vision loss has not occurred.
Ifdry eye syndromemay be causing your keratitis symptoms, your healthcare provider will perform the Schirmer tear test. A small strip of paper will be inserted into the corner of your eye to measure moisture.
Once a proper diagnosis has been made, your treatment can begin.
What to Expect From an Eye Exam
How Is Keratitis Treated?
Treatment of keratitis depends on the cause of the condition. Noninfectious keratitis, such as a corneal scratch or other injury, may not require any treatment. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic or prescription pain medication if you are in significant pain, and in order to speed healing. In some cases, a protective eye patch may be worn to protect the eye during healing.
Treatment of infectious keratitis will focus on controlling the underlying cause of the infection.
Some cases of infectious keratitis are resistant to many forms of medication. If your eye is permanently damaged, your healthcare provider may recommend having a corneal transplant.
Corneal Pannus: Treatment to Manage Blood Vessel Eye Damage
If your eye suddenly becomes red and inflamed, promptly remove your contact lenses if you wear them. Try not to touch or rub your eyes.Lubricating eye dropscan help ease the symptoms of keratitis.
Summary
If you think you have keratitis, see your healthcare provider right away to avoid serious complications that can cause permanent eye damage.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.Arunga, Simon and Burton, Matthew.Emergency management: microbial keratitis.Community Eye Health.2018; 31(103): 66–67. Published online 2018 Nov 9.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Keratitis.Austin A, Lietman T, Rose-nussbaumer J.Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis. Ophthalmology. 2017;124(11):1678-1689. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Basics of Bacterial Keratitis.Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health System.Dendritic Keratitis (Herpes Simplex Keratitis).Additional ReadingAustin, Ariana, MS, Tom Lietman, MD and Jennifer Rose-Nussbaumer, MD. Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis.Ophthalmology,Vol 124 Issue 11, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Nov 2017. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.Arunga, Simon and Burton, Matthew.Emergency management: microbial keratitis.Community Eye Health.2018; 31(103): 66–67. Published online 2018 Nov 9.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Keratitis.Austin A, Lietman T, Rose-nussbaumer J.Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis. Ophthalmology. 2017;124(11):1678-1689. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Basics of Bacterial Keratitis.Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health System.Dendritic Keratitis (Herpes Simplex Keratitis).Additional ReadingAustin, Ariana, MS, Tom Lietman, MD and Jennifer Rose-Nussbaumer, MD. Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis.Ophthalmology,Vol 124 Issue 11, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Nov 2017. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Optometric Association.Keratitis.Arunga, Simon and Burton, Matthew.Emergency management: microbial keratitis.Community Eye Health.2018; 31(103): 66–67. Published online 2018 Nov 9.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Keratitis.Austin A, Lietman T, Rose-nussbaumer J.Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis. Ophthalmology. 2017;124(11):1678-1689. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Basics of Bacterial Keratitis.Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health System.Dendritic Keratitis (Herpes Simplex Keratitis).
American Optometric Association.Keratitis.
Arunga, Simon and Burton, Matthew.Emergency management: microbial keratitis.Community Eye Health.2018; 31(103): 66–67. Published online 2018 Nov 9.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Keratitis.
Austin A, Lietman T, Rose-nussbaumer J.Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis. Ophthalmology. 2017;124(11):1678-1689. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Basics of Bacterial Keratitis.
Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health System.Dendritic Keratitis (Herpes Simplex Keratitis).
Austin, Ariana, MS, Tom Lietman, MD and Jennifer Rose-Nussbaumer, MD. Update on the Management of Infectious Keratitis.Ophthalmology,Vol 124 Issue 11, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Nov 2017. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.012.
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