Corneal inflammation causes pain and restricts eyesight. How to recognize and treat them, you will find out here.
Corneal inflammation: background
- Corneal inflammation is referred to in the jargon as keratitis . Keratitis may include various diseases of the cornea. In inflammation, the cornea is clouded and very sensitive to light .
- The cornea is the foremost layer of the eye and transparent as well as arched. Its function is to protect the eye and break the light along with the lens.
Corneal inflammation: symptoms
- Eyes are red
- Feeling of a foreign object in the eye
- Eyesight diminishes
- Pain on the eye
- Tissue damage to the cornea
- Pain especially strong when looking into the light
Corneal inflammation: causes
- Infection: The eyes are protected, inter alia, by the blink of an external pathogen. But sometimes viruses or bacteria manage to get right to the eyes and cause an infection
- Bacteria: Bacteria are one of the main causes of keratitis. In several steps, the bacteria finally penetrate into the cornea and can then attack and destroy them relatively quickly.
- Viruses: Especially herpes as a virus is also a threat to eyes and cornea. The problem: Herpes viruses live in some cells of the body for a lifetime after the outbreak. Usually it comes to the familiar cold sores, but also the cornea can be attacked.
- Contact lenses: wearers of contact lenses are at increased risk of corneal inflammation. Because the lenses can either be infected with a pathogen or the cornea gets less oxygen due to the lenses.
- UV radiation: A strong influence of light, for example in the solarium or in places with strong sunlight, can cause inflammation of the cornea after a certain time.
- Foreign matter: Our cornea is very sensitive and usually reacts immediately when a foreign object hits the eye and affects our vision. In certain diseases, this sensation may be limited, causing the cornea to become inflamed due to permanent irritation.
Corneal inflammation: You can do that
- Make sure not to touch your face and eyes often . So you increase the risk that others are infected with you.
- Wear sun glasses in the sun so as not to expose your eyes to strong light.
- Eye drops can help with dry eyes to produce tears. It is also important to pay attention to a sufficient humidity in the apartment. You can also put water tanks on the heater.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly , as the pathogens stick to the hands very quickly and are then transferred.
Corneal inflammation: treatment
The type of treatment depends of course on the exact cause . In any case, if you have an inflammation of the eyes (eg conjunctivitis), you should go to the ophthalmologist to get the correct diagnosis. The ophthalmologist will then take steps to protect the cornea and relieve symptoms.
- Antibiotics (in bacteria)
- Antifungals (in mushrooms)
- Antivirals (in case of viruses)
- eye drop
- eye ointment