
What is keratitis?
15 May 2023
Keratitis is the medical name for inflammation of the cornea, the transparent dome that covers the iris and pupil of the eye.
Keratitis can be divided into two categories depending on its cause: infectious keratitis or non-infectious keratitis. Some people refer to microbial keratitis as infectious keratitis.
Signs and symptoms of keratitis include:
- Eye pain
- Watery eyes
- Red, irritated, bloodshot eyes
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Blurred vision
- Trouble opening the eyelid
- Sensation of something in the eye
Causes of infectious keratitis include:
- Bacterial keratitis: this type, caused by bacteria, is the most common.
- Fungal keratitis is caused by fungi, often from plants.
- Parasitic keratitis: Parasites are organisms that live on another organism. Acanthamoeba keratitis is caused by a single-celled parasite called an amoeba.
- Viral keratitis: Viruses, such as those that cause herpes zoster and herpes simplex, can cause keratitis. Herpes simplex keratitis is usually recurrent.
Causes of non-infectious keratitis include:
- Injury to the eye. This includes having eye surgery, having an accident, and having a condition where the eyelashes rub against the surface of the eye.
- Wearing contact lenses for too long.
- Having a foreign object in the eye.
- Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
- Having an eyelid disorder or an immune system disease that causes dry eyes.
If you think you may have keratitis, see an ophthalmologist immediately. The disease can damage the eyes and cause vision loss. Worldwide, keratitis causes most cases of corneal blindness.
At the Espaillat Cabral Institute, we have specialists to treat this disease. Click here to request an appointment.