Corneal ulcers and infections

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Eye

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Corneal ulcers and infections

Alternative Names:

Bacterial keratitis; Fungal keratitis; Acanthamoeba keratitis; Herpes simplex keratitis

Treatment:

Treating corneal ulcers and infections depends on the cause. They should be treated as soon as possible to prevent further injury to the cornea. Broad antibiotic coverage is started and then more specific antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal eye drops are prescribed (as soon as the agent which causes the ulcer has been identified).

Corticosteroid eye drops may be used to reduce inflammation in certain conditions. Severe ulcers may need to be treated with corneal transplantation.

Expectations (prognosis):

Untreated, a corneal ulcer or infection can permanently damage the cornea. Untreated corneal ulcers may also perforate the eye, resulting in spread of the infection inside, increasing the risk of permanent visual impairment.

Complications:

Corneal scarring
Severe vision loss

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop impaired vision, severe light sensitivity, or eye pain.

Review Date: 7/24/2004
Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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