Keratitis - Medtick
Medtick

Keratitis

What is it?

A serious eye condition that can cause:

  • Long term eye swelling and redness.
  • Long term and recurrent viral eye infections
  • Ulcers (open sores) in the eye, scarring of the eye
  • Lead to temporary or permanent loss of vision.

Cause

  • Contaminated contact lenses:
  • Infection:
    • Bacterial: pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus)
    • Fungi: Fungal keratitis is also often seen in conjunction with improper use of contact lenses. Fungal keratitis can be caused by Aspergillus, Candida, or Fusarium.
    • Parasites: A particularly dangerous form of infectious keratitis is called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This type of infection is usually acquired while wearing contact lenses while swimming in a lake.
  • Not disinfecting lens properly
  • wearing contact lenses while swimming
  • Wearing them longer than recommended
  • Poor storage of lens
  • Common in people who use extended-wear contacts, or wear contacts continuously, than in those who use daily wear contacts and take them out at night.
  • Viruses: Viral keratitis is usually caused by the herpes simplex virus. This type progresses from a case of conjunctivitis to infectious keratitis

Syndromes

Medication

Symptoms

  • Feeling that something is in your eye?
  • Blurred vision?
  • Decreased vision?
  • Difficulty opening one’s eyelids?
  • Redness of eye?
  • Sensitivity to light?
  • Slight Eye pain?
  • Sticky discharge causing the eyes to stick together?
  • Watering eyes (not controlled) when exposed particularly in the wind or hot days (tears evaporate more quickly in these climates)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Acanthamoeba Keratitis
  • Knowing a ‘risky’ substance or was at risk of a substance went into is in your eye?
  • Blurred vision?
  • Blindness?
  • Decreased vision?
  • Difficulty opening one’s eyelids due to pain and irritation?
  • Severe Sensitivity to light?
  • Severe eye pain?
  • Loss of vision?
If have the emergency symptoms above and/or dry eye syndrome caused by improper use of wearing contact lens.

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist/Optician) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Keratitis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

© Medtick - 2025. All Rights Reserved.