| General Illness Information |
Common Name: |
Corneal
Ulcer, Corneal abrasion. |
|
Medical Term:
|
Corneal ulcer, Corneal abrasion |
| Description: |
Ulceration or sore in the thin transparent layer of the
colored part of the eye (cornea).
|
| Causes: |
Dry
eye, burns, abrasion, contact lenses, inappropriate use of topical
anesthetics, antibiotics, or antiviral drops, immunosuppressant
drugs, diabetes, immunodeficiency are the main predisposing
factors.
Infection
by bacteria or viruses frequently follows.
|
| Prevention: |
Avoid corneal
abrasion or injury and improper contact lens handling. |
| Signs
& Symptoms |
|
Eyelid and conjunctiva
become inflamed
Mucopurulent discharge
Foreign body sensation
Blurred vision
Light sensitivity
Pain
|
|
| Risk Factors |
|
Any abrasive injury
to the cornea.
Contact lenses
(especially soft lenses)
Chronic topical
steroid use
|
| Diagnosis & Treatment |
| Diagnostic tests include an eye
examination, sometimes a visual acuity test, a
laboratory culture study of discharge and scrapings
from the ulcer to identify the organism. |
| Treatment will involve removing any
foreign body, patching of the eye, and medications for
the eye. |
|
| General
Measures: |
|
Outpatient or inpatient
for severe ulcer or
noncompliant patient
All cases of corneal
ulceration should be promptly referred to an
ophthalmologist.
Aggressive topical
antibiotic treatment directed toward the causative agent
should be instituted immediately while culture studies are
pending
Bandaging
the eye should be avoided and topical steroids should never
be used.
|
|
| Medications: |
|
Antibiotic eye drops are the mainstay of
treatment.
Sulfa drops are not effective, unless in
very mild cases.
Gentamycin, Tobramycin, Ciloxan, Ofloxacin
drops are used for bacterial infections.
Fungal and viral ulcerations are treated
with the appropriate antimicrobial.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Possible
Complications : |
|
Scarring of the cornea and loss
of vision, if untreated. |
|
| Prognosis |
|
Excellent, with appropriate
treatment.
|
|
|