Do you have any suspicions that you have keratitis? Learn about common signs and symptoms of keratitis in this article.
Keratitis is a medical problem that affects the function of the cornea, which is the transparent outer layer at the front of the eye, as it helps the eye focus to enable you to see things clearly, but what are the symptoms of keratitis?
Symptoms of keratitis
Symptoms of keratitis can include any of the following
Eye pain is the main symptom of keratitis, as the cornea is one of the important parts of the eye that maintains healthy vision.
When you have inflammation, your vision can become blurry and blurry.
It could feel like you have something bothering you in your eye, even if it isn''t.
You may have more watery eyes than usual.
You may develop redness in your eye, and increased secretions and eye mucus.
You could become sensitive to light, a medical condition known as photophobia, and not want to look at a light, have a bright light in your home or be outside in strong sunlight.
You may have difficulty opening the eyelid due to pain, irritation, or swelling.
You may feel burning or itching in the eyes.
When do you visit the doctor?
It is worth mentioning that if you notice any of the signs or symptoms of keratitis, you should consult an ophthalmologist immediately, as delay in diagnosing and treating keratitis can lead to serious complications, including blindness.
Complications of keratitis
Keratitis can be serious and may cause vision loss or blindness if left untreated, but the condition is usually treatable if diagnosed early.
Complications can include permanent scarring, ulcers on the cornea or, less commonly, glaucoma.
Types of keratitis
There are two main types of keratitis
1. Infectious keratitis
Infectious keratitis occurs due to one of the following reasons
Bacterial infection: The following types are the most common types of bacteria that cause keratitis:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
Viral infection: Keratitis may be caused by the herpes simplex virus, which progresses from conjunctivitis to keratitis.
Fungal infection: Aspergillus, Candida, or Fusarium can cause keratitis.
Parasitic infection: Acanthamoeba keratitis occurs rarely and infection with this parasite occurs in the following cases:
Swimming in a lake.
Walking in a wooded area.
Contact lenses with water.
2. Non-infectious keratitis
Possible noninfectious causes of keratitis include
Eye injury, such as: scratching.
Wearing contact lenses for a long time.
Living in a dry climate.
Weakened immune system.
Exposure to intense sunlight.
Diagnose the symptoms of keratitis
Your doctor may examine your eyes and discuss your symptoms. You may have difficulty opening your eyes if you have an active infection, but your doctor will be able to help you.
A full eye exam may not be necessary, and your doctor may use a slit lamp to see and identify corneal inflammation or ulcers.
If your doctor suspects an infection, laboratory tests may be needed. A sample obtained from your eye can help determine the cause of the infection.
A vision examination may also be performed to ensure that no vision loss has occurred. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, treatment can begin.
