The corneas of your eyes are the protective front surfaces that function as the first and most dramatic point of “light bending.” They focus light on your retinas, which is then fine-tuned by the eye’s natural lenses.
The corneas are at risk for infectious keratitis, an aggressive infection that may be bacterial, fungal, amoebic, or viral in origin. Infectious keratitis can progress quickly, causing significant scarring of the corneas which can, without prompt treatment, cause permanent damage to your vision and lead to the need for corneal transplants.
At Advanced Lasik in Midtown East, New York City, and Duarte and Long Beach, California, our team wants you to know how to recognize infectious keratitis and what to do when you suspect an infection. Ophthalmologist Dr. Randa Garrana is a leading eye surgeon, and should you ever require a corneal transplant, we’ve got you covered.
The infective pathogens that affect your corneas may gain hold after you experience an eye injury or scratching of the cornea itself. Contaminated water may be the carrier of bacterial or parasitic infection.
Having a suppressed immune system raises your risk of infectious keratitis, just as some eye conditions can make the problem more likely. The specific infecting agent determines the appropriate treatment you’ll require.
Watch for these signs of an active infection in your eyes:
Sudden changes to your vision or significant pain in your eyes are reasons to seek urgent medical care to investigate the reasons.
Left untreated, infectious keratitis can damage corneal tissue in the form of ulcers, leading to scarring and reduced vision. In extreme cases, eye surgery may be necessary to improve your vision. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent deterioration of vision as well as the need for more aggressive medical measures.
Seek emergency medical care anytime you experience sudden changes to your vision. The same is true when you begin having significant eye pain. Redness or visible spots on your corneas are also reasons to seek immediate medical attention.
Treating infectious keratitis may require taking a corneal scraping sample of the ulcer’s edge and base at the time of medical examination. Depending on the pathogen responsible for the infection as well as the disease’s progression and severity, you may be prescribed antibacterial or antimicrobial eye drops along with other medications.
Serious infections could require close medical follow-up and additional treatment.
Do you have questions about infectious keratitis? We have answers. Schedule a visit at your nearest Advanced Lasik location today: We have one East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
