What is corneal ulcer? | symptoms | Causes | signs | complications |management |Treatment | Prevention

The opening score of the cornea is known as a corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is caused by infection, chemical trauma, physical, corneal drying, and exposure, contact lens overusing, or misuse. Corneal ulcers are also a serious problem that may lead to loss of vision.
   

What is a Corneal ulcer?

The opening sore of cornea defect with underlying inflammation of the cornea.
The cornea overlies the iris, which is the color part of the eye and it is separated from the iris by aqueous fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye.

The corneal ulcer may be defined as discontinuation in the normal epithelial surface of the cornea associated with necrosis of the surrounding corneal tissue. 
 Pathologically, it is characterized by edema and cellular infiltration.

Causes

  1. Long time or misuse of contact lens wearing.
  2. Some bacteria produce toxins that can cause ulceration of the cornea.
  3. Tiny cuts or scratches on the corneal surface can also become infected and lead to corneal ulcers.
  4. Dry eyes disorders that cause corneal ulcers.
  5. Chemical burns or other damaging solutions will injure the cornea which leads to corneal ulceration.
  6. Some patients with immunological disorders like Arthritis, Lupus, and others may develop a corneal ulcer.

Symptoms

  1. Pain
  2. Photophobia
  3. Blurred vision
  4. Watering
  5. Redness of the eye

Signs

  1. Inflammation and redness in the conjunctiva
  2. Swelling of lids of varying degrees is present
  3. Blepharospasm may be moderate to severe.
  4. The conjunctiva is chemosed and shows conjunctival hyperemia and ciliary congestion.
  5. Swelling edema of cornea around the ulcer
  6. your eye may have single or multiple ulcers in one or both eyes.

Risk factor

  1. People wearing contact lens are likely to get corneal ulcers
  2. Patient using steroid eye drops
  3. Dry eyes disorders
  4. Eyelid inflammation (Blepharitis)
  5. Eyelashes that grow inward (Trichiasis)
  6. Eyelids that turn inward (Atropian)
  7. Chemical burns or other injuries

Diagnosis

If you notice any of these symptoms suddenly you have to visit the hospital. Your doctor will use a drop in your eye and look your eye with a slit lamp to find a problem. After finding a problem in your eye, your doctor will take a small sample from the ulcer for analysis in a lab. This will help your doctor to decide the best treatment for you.

Complication

  1. Toxic iridocyclitis
  2. Secondary glaucoma
  3. Descemetocele
  4. Perforation of corneal ulcer
  5. Corneal scarring

Management

  1. Rule out lacrimal sac infection
  2. Staining of ulcer
  3. Lab investigations
  • HB, TLC, DLC, ESR, BLOOD SUGAR

Treatment

Medications
Depending upon the cause of the ulcer,
  1. Antibiotic
  2. Antiviral
  3. Antifungal
To treat pain, your doctor will provide you an oral painkiller.

Surgery
If medication doesn't help or if your ulcer is severe, you need a corneal transplant. Your doctor will take out your cornea and replaces it with a healthy person.

Follow up
You have to see your doctor every 3 days a week. Contact your doctor if you find any complications like blur vision, itching, etc.

Prevention

  1. Wear eye protection
  2. If your eye is dry use artificial tears to keep your eye moist.
  3. If you are using a contact lens you have to take it out every evening before sleep and have to clean them with a solution.
  4. Be careful, use eye protection while working with chemicals.
  5. Hot fomentation, take a hot bag and apply it to your closed eyes.
written by Barsha Panth
Location: United States

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