Keratitis - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment- Herpes Simplex Keratitis

What is keratitis?

Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea and it may be highly acute or chronic and superficial or deep. Superficial keratitis is very common in many people and may develop at any age. The prognosis is good with effective treatment. If left untreated, recurrent keratitis may lead to permanant blindness.

Causes of keratitis

The causes of Keratitis are varied. Some of them are as follows:

• Open eye Exposure disorders such as Bell's palsy where the eyelids don't close.
• Infection by herpes simplex virus, type 1, known as dendritic keratitis because of a characteristic branched lesion of the cornea resembling the veins of a leaf.
• It may also stem from bacterial and fungal infections and, rarely, from congenital syphilis.

Signs and symptoms of keratitis

The signs and symptoms includes mild irritation, tearing, and photophobia. If the infection is in the center of the cornea, it may produce blurred vision. If it is left untreated corneal opacities can occur. When keratitis results from exposure, it usually affects the lower portion of the cornea.

Herpes simplex keratitis

Herpes simplex keratitis is the major cause of eye disorders in adults. It may lead to chronic inflammation of the cornea, development of tiny blood vessels in the eye, scarring, loss of vision and sometimes Glaucoma.

Diagnosis of Keratitis

• An examination with the stilt lamp reveals the depth of the keratitis. If keratitis is due to herpes simplex virus, staining the eye with a fluorescein strip produces one or more small branch like (dendritic) lesions; touching the cornea with cotton reveals reduced corneal sensation.
• Vision testing may show slightly decreased acuity.
• The patient history may reveal a recent infection of the upper respiratory tract accompanied by cold sores.

Home remedies for the treatment of keratitis

There are many options available for the treatment of Keratitis. Some of them are as follows: For cases caused by dry eye, artificial tears for lubrication are usually effective. Vitamin supplementation is given in cases where a vitamin A deficiency is the suspected cause. A sterile, cotton-tipped applicator may be used to gently remove infected tissue and allow the eye to heal more rapidly. A patient with keratitis may wear a patch to protect the healing eye from bright light, foreign objects, the lid rubbing against the cornea, and other irritants. Minor keratitis corneal infections are commonly treated with anti-bacterial or anti-fungal eye drops.

If the problem is more severe, a person may receive more intensive antibiotic treatment as under to eliminate the infection. In acute keratitis due to herpes simplex virus, treatment consists of trifluridine eye drops or vidarabine ointment. A broad-spectrum antibiotic may prevent secondary bacterial infection. Chronic dendritic keratitis may respond more quickly to vidarabine. Long-term topical therapy may be necessary. (Corticosteroid therapy is contraindicated in dendritic keratitis or any other viral or fungal disease of the cornea.) Treatment for fungal keratitis consists of natamycin. Keratitis due to exposure requires application of moisturizing ointment to the exposed cornea and of a plastic bubble eye shield or eye patch. Treatment for severe corneal scarring may include keratoplasty (cornea transplantation).

Minor corneal infections are commonly treated with anti-bacterial or anti-fungal eye drops. If the problem is more severe, a person may receive more intensive antibiotic treatment to eliminate the infection and may need to take steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation.

Soak aloe vera juice in a cloth to be placed over your eyes to soothe them. Aloe vera juice can be used as eyewash by following similar procedure.

You can put honey directly in your eyes or make honey eyewash by using three tablespoons of honey in two cups of boiling water.

A strong and healthy immune system is vital in protecting against any infection, including infections of the eye. Herbs well known for their tonic effect on the immune system include Echinacea, Olea europea and Astragalus membranaceous, while Propolis (a bee product) has been used for many years as an immune system strengthener.

Prevention tips for Keratitis

• Children and adults who wear contact lenses should always use sterile lens-cleaning and disinfecting solutions.
• Do not over wear contact lenses at night and remove them if the eyes become red or irritated.
• Also consume a well-balanced diet, including vitamin A -rich foods such as carrots , squash, mangoes , sweet potatoes and spinach.
• Many cases of keratitis could be avoided with common sense and good hygiene. Protecting your cornea from cuts with sports and protective eyewear is the first step, since keratitis also results from a corneal injury. If you have a cold sore or genital herpes, avoid touching your eyes - and avoid over-the-counter steroid eye drops, which can worsen this type of infection.