What is Keratitis? Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

What is Keratitis?

Keratitis is inflammation of your cornea, the clear dome-shaped front surface of your eye. Think of your cornea as your eye's protective window that helps focus light so you can see clearly.

This condition can range from mild irritation to serious infection. The inflammation happens when your cornea becomes damaged, infected, or irritated by various factors like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or physical injury.

While keratitis might sound scary, most cases respond well to treatment when caught early. The key is recognizing the symptoms and getting proper medical care promptly.

What are the Symptoms of Keratitis?

The symptoms of keratitis often start gradually and can feel similar to having something stuck in your eye. Your body is essentially telling you that your cornea needs attention.

Common symptoms you might experience include:

• Eye pain that can range from mild discomfort to sharp, stabbing sensations
• Redness around your eye, especially near the cornea
• Blurred or cloudy vision that doesn't improve with blinking
• Sensitivity to light, making it hard to be in bright rooms or sunlight
• Excessive tearing or watery discharge
• Feeling like there's sand or grit in your eye
• Difficulty opening your eye, especially in the morning

In more severe cases, you might notice a white or grayish spot on your cornea, or pus-like discharge. These symptoms suggest the infection is more serious and needs immediate medical attention.

What are the Types of Keratitis?

Keratitis falls into two main categories based on whether germs are involved. Understanding these types helps explain why treatment approaches can vary.

Infectious keratitis happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites invade your cornea. This type is more serious because the infection can spread and cause permanent damage if not treated quickly.

Non-infectious keratitis occurs from physical injury, dry eyes, or exposure to irritants like chemicals or intense light. While still uncomfortable, this type typically heals faster and has fewer complications.

Your doctor will determine which type you have through examination and sometimes testing, which guides the most effective treatment plan.

What Causes Keratitis?

Keratitis develops when your cornea's protective barrier gets compromised. Several different factors can trigger this inflammation, ranging from common everyday situations to more unusual circumstances.

The most frequent causes include:

• Contact lens problems, especially sleeping in lenses or poor hygiene
• Viral infections like herpes simplex or shingles affecting the eye
• Bacterial infections from contaminated water or eye makeup
• Minor injuries from dust, sand, or fingernails scratching the eye
• Dry eye syndrome that leaves your cornea unprotected
• Autoimmune conditions that cause your body to attack healthy eye tissue

Less common but serious causes include fungal infections from plant material hitting your eye, certain parasites found in contaminated water, and exposure to ultraviolet light without protection.

Sometimes keratitis happens even when you're careful about eye care. Your cornea is delicate, and even minor disruptions can sometimes lead to inflammation.

When to See a Doctor for Keratitis?

You should contact your eye doctor or seek medical care if you experience persistent eye pain, vision changes, or unusual discharge. Early treatment prevents complications and helps you feel better faster.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have severe eye pain, sudden vision loss, or see white spots on your cornea. These symptoms suggest a serious infection that needs urgent treatment.

Don't wait if you wear contact lenses and develop eye symptoms. Contact lens-related keratitis can progress quickly and cause permanent vision problems if not treated promptly.

Even mild symptoms that don't improve within a day or two deserve medical evaluation. Your eye health is too important to risk, and early intervention almost always leads to better outcomes.

What are the Risk Factors for Keratitis?

Certain factors make you more likely to develop keratitis, though having risk factors doesn't mean you'll definitely get this condition. Understanding these helps you take protective steps.

The main risk factors include:

• Wearing contact lenses, especially extended-wear or overnight lenses
• Having a history of eye injuries or previous eye infections
• Living with dry eye syndrome or other chronic eye conditions
• Taking medications that suppress your immune system
• Having certain autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
• Frequent exposure to contaminated water through swimming or hot tubs
• Working in environments with lots of dust, chemicals, or flying debris

Some less common risk factors include having had recent eye surgery, using steroid eye drops long-term, or having certain infections elsewhere in your body that can spread to your eyes.

Even if you have multiple risk factors, good eye hygiene and regular eye care can significantly reduce your chances of developing keratitis.

What are the Possible Complications of Keratitis?

Most cases of keratitis heal completely with proper treatment, but some complications can occur if the condition is severe or not treated promptly. Understanding these possibilities helps you appreciate why early care matters.

Potential complications include:

• Corneal scarring that can cause permanent vision problems or cloudiness
• Corneal ulcers, which are deeper wounds that take longer to heal
• Increased eye pressure that can damage your optic nerve
• Chronic inflammation that keeps coming back
• Irregular corneal shape that affects how light enters your eye
• Secondary bacterial infections in severe cases

In rare cases, severe keratitis can cause corneal perforation, where a hole develops in the cornea, or require corneal transplant surgery. These serious complications are uncommon when treatment starts early.

The good news is that most people who get prompt, appropriate treatment recover without lasting effects. Your eye doctor will monitor your healing to catch any complications early.

How Can Keratitis be Prevented?

You can significantly reduce your risk of keratitis through good eye care habits and being mindful of potential hazards. Prevention is always easier than treatment.

If you wear contact lenses, proper care makes the biggest difference. Always wash your hands before handling lenses, replace them as directed, and never sleep in daily-wear contacts.

Protect your eyes from injury by wearing safety glasses during activities that could send debris flying. This includes yard work, sports, and certain job tasks.

Keep your eyes moist if you have dry eye syndrome. Use preservative-free artificial tears as recommended by your eye doctor, and consider a humidifier in dry environments.

Avoid contaminated water when possible. Don't swim or shower while wearing contacts, and be cautious about hot tubs and natural water sources.

Practice good hygiene around your eyes. Don't share eye makeup, replace it regularly, and avoid touching your eyes with unwashed hands.

How is Keratitis Diagnosed?

Your eye doctor will diagnose keratitis through a comprehensive eye examination and your symptom history. The process is thorough but typically comfortable and straightforward.

First, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, when they started, and potential causes like contact lens use or eye injuries. This information helps guide the examination and testing.

The eye exam includes checking your vision and using a special microscope called a slit lamp to examine your cornea closely. Your doctor might use eye drops to make you more comfortable and get a better view.

If infection is suspected, your doctor may take a small sample from your eye for laboratory testing. This helps identify the specific cause and choose the most effective treatment.

Additional tests might include measuring your eye pressure or taking detailed photos of your cornea. These help your doctor monitor your condition and track your healing progress.

What is the Treatment for Keratitis?

Treatment for keratitis depends on the underlying cause, but the goal is always to reduce inflammation, eliminate infection if present, and protect your cornea while it heals.

For bacterial keratitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointments. These medications are specifically chosen to fight the bacteria causing your infection and usually provide relief within a few days.

Viral keratitis often requires antiviral medications, either as eye drops or oral pills. Treatment may take longer than bacterial infections, but most people recover completely with proper care.

Fungal keratitis needs antifungal medications, which may take weeks or months to fully clear the infection. This type requires close monitoring and patience during treatment.

Non-infectious keratitis typically responds to lubricating eye drops, anti-inflammatory medications, and avoiding whatever caused the irritation. Your doctor might also recommend temporary use of steroid drops to reduce inflammation.

In rare severe cases, procedures like corneal transplant might be necessary, but this is uncommon when treatment starts early and follows medical guidance.

How to Take Care at Home During Keratitis Treatment?

Home care plays an important role in your recovery from keratitis. Following your doctor's instructions and taking good care of your eyes helps the healing process and prevents complications.

Use your prescribed eye medications exactly as directed, even if you start feeling better. Stopping treatment too early can allow infection to return or inflammation to worsen.

Keep your eyes clean and avoid touching them with unwashed hands. If you have discharge, gently clean it away with a warm, damp cloth, using a fresh area for each wipe.

Remove contact lenses immediately and don't wear them until your doctor says it's safe. Your eyes need time to heal, and contacts can slow recovery or worsen infection.

Protect your eyes from bright light by wearing sunglasses when outdoors. Your eyes may be more sensitive than usual during treatment and healing.

Rest your eyes when possible and avoid activities that strain them, like prolonged computer use or reading in dim light. Good rest supports your body's natural healing process.

How Should You Prepare for Your Doctor Appointment?

Preparing for your eye appointment helps ensure you get the most accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. A little preparation makes the visit more productive for both you and your doctor.

Write down all your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse. Include details about pain levels, vision changes, and any discharge or unusual sensations.

Bring a list of all medications you're currently taking, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and eye drops. Some medications can affect your eyes or interact with treatments.

If you wear contact lenses, bring your lens case and cleaning solution. Your doctor may want to examine them or take samples for testing.

Think about recent activities that might have exposed your eyes to irritants or injury. This includes swimming, gardening, or working with chemicals or dust.

Arrange transportation if possible, as your doctor might use eye drops that temporarily blur your vision during the examination.

What's the Key Takeaway About Keratitis?

Keratitis is a treatable condition that responds well to prompt medical care. While it can be uncomfortable and concerning, most people recover completely when they get appropriate treatment early.

The most important thing you can do is seek medical attention if you experience persistent eye pain, vision changes, or unusual symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent complications and help you feel better faster.

If you wear contact lenses, proper hygiene and following your eye doctor's recommendations significantly reduce your risk. When in doubt, it's always better to remove your lenses and seek medical advice.

Remember that your eyesight is precious, and taking eye symptoms seriously is never an overreaction. With proper care and attention, keratitis can be successfully treated, allowing you to return to clear, comfortable vision.