Keratitis Eye Infection

Superficial keratitis involves the uppermost layers of the cornea. When this form of keratitis has healed, there is usually no scar on the cornea.
Deep keratitis affects deeper corneal layers. There can be a scar left after healing which may or may not affect your vision, depending on where the scar is located.
In addition to bacterial keratitis, there are a number of other types of keratitis eye infection, some of which include:
• Amoebic keratitis (usually affecting contact lens wearers, it is often caused byAcanthamoeba);
• Fungal keratitis (infection with fungi);
• Viral keratitis (caused by herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses);
• Photokeratitis (due to intense ultraviolet radiation exposure, e.g. snow blindness or welder’s arc eye).
• If you experience any of these symptoms, especially if they come on suddenly, call the office right away. If not taken care of, a keratitis eye infection can lead to blindness. Bacterial keratitis treatment must be started right away to prevent vision loss.
• Bacterial keratitis is usually treated with antibiotic drops and may require multiple return visits to your ophthalmologist. Drops are usually put in frequently. Treatment may also involve a topical steroid applied to the eye.
• If you wear contact lenses, it is very important to safely handle, store and clean your lenses to reduce your risk of developing a keratitis infection. Learn how to safely take care of your contact lenses