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Keratitis

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 15, 2022.

Overview

Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea — the clear, dome-shaped tissue on the front of your eye that covers the pupil and iris. Keratitis may or may not be associated with an infection. Noninfectious keratitis can be caused by a relatively minor injury, such as from wearing your contact lenses too long or getting a foreign body in the eye. Infectious keratitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

If you have eye redness or other symptoms of keratitis, make an appointment to see an eye specialist. With prompt attention, mild to moderate cases of keratitis can usually be effectively treated without loss of vision. If left untreated, or if an infection is severe, keratitis can lead to serious complications that may permanently damage your vision.

Symptoms

Symptoms of keratitis include:

When to see a doctor

If you notice any of the symptoms of keratitis, make an appointment to see an eye specialist right away. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of keratitis can lead to serious complications, including blindness.

Causes

Causes of keratitis include:

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of keratitis include:

Complications

Potential complications of keratitis include:

Prevention

Caring for your contact lenses

If you wear contact lenses, proper use, cleaning and disinfecting can help prevent keratitis. Follow these tips:

Preventing viral outbreaks

Some forms of viral keratitis can't be completely eliminated. But the following steps may control viral keratitis occurrences:

Diagnosis

Diagnosing keratitis typically involves the following:

Treatment

Noninfectious keratitis

Treatment of noninfectious keratitis varies depending on the severity. For example, with mild discomfort from a corneal scratch, artificial tear drops may be the only treatment. However, if keratitis is causing significant tearing and pain, topical eye medications may be necessary.

Infectious keratitis

Treatment of infectious keratitis varies, depending on the cause of the infection.

If keratitis doesn't respond to medication, or if it causes permanent damage to the cornea that significantly impairs your vision, your eye care provider may recommend a cornea transplant.

Preparing for an appointment

You may start by seeing or calling your health care provider if you have eye-related symptoms that worry you. Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, your provider may refer you to an eye specialist, called an ophthalmologist.

What you can do

Your time is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your appointment. For keratitis, some basic questions to ask include:

In addition to the questions you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask other questions anytime you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

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