The following features are indicative of keratitis:
eye redness
eye pain
excess tear discharge from eyes
difficulty in opening eyelid
blurred vision
decreased vision
sensitivity to light
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Common Causes of keratitis
The following are the most common causes of keratitis:
eye injury
contaminated contact lenses
herpes simplex viral infection
use of contaminated water
Risk Factors for keratitis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of keratitis:
weakened immune system
exposure to warm climate
use of contact lenses
Prevention of keratitis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent keratitis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
proper washing of hands before handling contact lenses
replace contact lens case every three to six months
avoid touching eyes while having viral infection
Occurrence of keratitis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of keratitis cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
keratitis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
keratitis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of keratitis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect keratitis:
Eye examination: Helps in determination of visual acuity
Penlight examination: Helps to identify the extent and character of surface irregularities and ulcers of the cornea
Slit-lamp examination: Helps in proper visualization of structures of eyes to detect the character and extent of keratitis
Complications of keratitis if untreated
Yes, keratitis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if keratitis is left untreated:
chronic corneal inflammation
corneal ulcers
corneal swelling
corneal scarring
permanent reduction in vision
blindness
Procedures for Treatment of keratitis
The following procedures are used to treat keratitis:
Corneal transplantation: To restore vision of eye
Self-care for keratitis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of keratitis:
proper washing of hands before handling contact lenses
replace contact lens case every three to six months
avoid touching eyes while having viral infection
Time for Treatment of keratitis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for keratitis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: