Are your eyes sore? Are they red? It could be keratitis!

Do you sometimes have sore eyes? Do your eyes feel red and watery? Do you sometimes feel like there's something in your eye? Don't dismiss these as just a simple thing. Because these could be symptoms of a small eye problem called 'Keratitis'. Shall we talk about this in more detail today?

What is Keratitis?

Simply put, Keratitis is the inflammation of the transparent, glass-like part of the front of your eye called the cornea. The cornea covers the iris and the pupil. Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea. Sometimes, this can lead to a corneal ulcer.

Keratitis can be divided into two main types. One is infectious keratitis, which is caused by infection . Some people also call this 'microbial' keratitis. The other is noninfectious keratitis .

The first symptoms of this can be eye pain and redness. If you experience this, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible. Because this can sometimes lead to vision loss due to damage to the eyes. In many countries of the world, especially in developing countries, this condition called keratitis is the leading cause of corneal blindness.

How common is Keratitis?

Keratitis is actually a common, treatable condition. However, in developed countries like the United States, infectious keratitis is a leading cause of blindness. Some keratitis infections can be spread from person to person , for example, by touching contaminated objects, coughing, or sneezing.

What are the symptoms of Keratitis?

Now let's see what the symptoms are. See if you have any of these:

• Eye pain : This is the main symptom.
• Watery eyes .
• The eyes are red, inflamed, and appear bloodshot .
• Photophobia - This means that it is difficult to look at light.
• Blurred vision .
• It is difficult to open the eyelids .
• A feeling of something stuck in the eye .

What causes Keratitis?

There are infectious and non-infectious causes of keratitis. Let's look at them separately.

How does infectious keratitis develop?

There are several main causes of infectious keratitis:

• Bacterial Keratitis : This is the most common type . It is caused by bacteria. For example, if you touch your eye with dirty hands or if you don't clean your contact lenses properly, this type of bacteria can enter your eye.
• Fungal Keratitis : This is caused by fungi. Sometimes, these fungi can enter the eye from tree leaves or soil. For example, if a small branch hits the eye while doing some gardening, this can happen.
• Parasitic Keratitis : Parasites are organisms that live on other organisms. The most common one is Acanthamoeba Keratitis. This is caused by a single-celled parasite called an amoeba. It can be spread especially through contaminated water, such as swimming pools and rivers. People who wear contact lenses should be very careful about this.
• Viral Keratitis : Certain viruses, such as the virus that causes shingles or the herpes simplex virus, can also cause keratitis. Herpes simplex keratitis can recur .

How does noninfectious keratitis develop?

This condition can occur even without infection. Let's see what they are:

• Eye injuries : This can be caused by eye surgery, an accident, or if you have a condition where your eyelids are curling inward and rubbing against the cornea.
• Wearing contact lenses for too long : Some people wear lenses for longer than the doctor recommends. This can damage the eyes and lead to this condition.
• Something getting into the eye from outside : If something like a small particle of dust or an insect gets into the eye.
• Excessive exposure to UV light : This can happen if you spend too much time in the sun without sunglasses. Welders should also be careful about this.
• Vitamin A deficiency : Vitamin A is very important for eye health. If it is low, problems like these can occur.
• Dry eyes due to an eyelid condition or a weakened immune system : Some diseases can cause dry eyes, which can lead to keratitis.

What are the risk factors for developing Keratitis?

Anyone can develop keratitis. However, one of the main risk factors for this is the use of contact lenses . The reasons for this are:

• Wearing lenses for longer than intended : This can damage the eye and increase the risk of infection.
• Not cleaning/sterilizing lenses properly .
• Wearing lenses while bathing in swimming pools, hot tubs, or outdoor water sources . These waters may contain microorganisms that are harmful to the eyes.

Other risk factors are:

• Long-term use of corticosteroids .
• Weakening of the immune system .
• Having dry eyes .
• Eye injury (including surgery) .

How is Keratitis diagnosed?

Your eye doctor will first ask you about your symptoms and medical history. Then they will do some or all of these tests:

• Complete eye exam : The doctor will examine your eyes using a bright light and a microscope.
• Culture of a discharge from the ear : The doctor will take a small swab of the discharge from the ear and send it to a lab to find out what germs are in it.
• Fluorescein stain test : The doctor will put a special dye in your eye and look at it under a blue light. This can help detect any damage to the cornea.

How is Keratitis treated?

If you have mild keratitis , your doctor may recommend using lubricant eye drops to help your eye heal on its own.

However, medication is usually given for keratitis caused by infection .

• If you have a bacterial infection , you will be given antibiotic eye drops.
• If it is a fungal infection , eye drops containing antifungal medication will be given.
• If it is a viral infection , the doctor will prescribe antiviral eye drops.

After a bacterial or viral infection has largely or completely cleared up, your doctor may prescribe steroid eye drops to reduce swelling.

For pain, the doctor may also give you eye drops that dilate your eyes.

If you have severe keratitis , you may be given oral medication to treat the infection.

If keratitis does not respond to medication and causes scarring of the cornea, you may need to undergo a corneal transplant .

How soon will I feel better after treatment?

If you take anti-infective medication, you will start to feel better in about a day or two. However, in severe cases, it will take a little longer to recover .

How can you reduce the risk of developing keratitis?

You can do these things to reduce your risk of developing keratitis:

• Follow the instructions exactly on how long to wear contact lenses .
• If you have to touch your eyes, keep your hands clean .
• Follow the instructions for cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses exactly .
• Do not swim, bathe, or use a hot tub while wearing contact lenses.
• Follow good hand washing habits and avoid contact with people who are sick .
• Wear protective eyewear when working or playing sports .
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV light .

What can someone with keratitis expect?

Most types of keratitis can be cured with treatment . However, if you have a viral type of keratitis, it can recur .

You can also develop glaucoma as a result of infectious keratitis. The recovery rate for people with fungal keratitis may be slightly lower than for people with bacterial keratitis.

If left untreated, keratitis can cause scarring of the cornea, which can lead to vision loss. Therefore, prompt treatment is very important.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have symptoms such as eye pain, redness, watery eyes, and blurred vision, you should definitely see a doctor .

If you don't feel better after treatment, see a doctor.

What questions should I ask the doctor about keratitis?

You can ask the doctor questions like:

• What type of Keratitis do I have?
• When can I go back to work or school?
• Is it safe for me to drive?
• How can I reduce stress to prevent Herpes Simplex Keratitis from recurring?
• What complications should I be concerned about? When should I see you again?

What is the difference between Keratitis and Uveitis?

The main difference between keratitis and uveitis is where the inflammation occurs . Although the symptoms are very similar, uveitis affects the part of the eye called the uvea.

The uvea is the middle layer of the eye. It includes the iris , choroid, and ciliary body . Keratitis affects your cornea – the protective membrane over the iris.

Another eye disease with similar symptoms is conjunctivitis , also known as 'pink eye.' It affects the tissue that covers the inside of the eyelid (the conjunctiva).

Sometimes, when both the cornea and conjunctiva are inflamed, it is called keratoconjunctivitis . Young children can get a mild form of this.

As with other eye conditions, it is important to seek medical attention at the earliest possible stage . If you have eye pain, especially if your eyes are red, swollen, have difficulty opening them, or have blurred vision, you should definitely see a doctor . Keratitis is treatable.

Some important things to remember

Okay, so now you have a good understanding of what we've been talking about, Keratitis. Remember, the eyes are a very valuable organ . So, if you notice anything unusual in your eyes, such as pain, redness, or a change in vision, don't ignore it .

• Especially if you are a contact lens user, be very careful about how you use and clean them .
• If you experience any eye symptoms, see a doctor without delay . Prompt treatment can often cure these conditions and reduce any damage to your vision.
• Do not share your eye makeup, towels, etc. with others .
• Always keep your hands clean , because it is from our hands that many germs enter our eyes.

If you follow these tips, you will be greatly helped to protect yourself from eye problems like keratitis. Healthy eyes for everyone!

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