Corneal Ulcer

Corneal ulcers may be caused by infections with bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites such as Acanthamoeba (which lives in contaminated water). Ulcers may begin with a corneal injury, such as with severe dry eyes, if a foreign object scratches, penetrates, or lodges in the eye or, more often, if the eye is irritated by a contact lens, especially when contact lenses are worn during sleep or are not adequately disinfected (see Care and complications Care and complications of contact lenses Refractive errors can be corrected with glass or plastic lenses mounted in a frame (eyeglasses) or with a small lens made of plastic floating or resting on the cornea (contact lens). Good vision... read more ). Viral corneal ulcers (often due to herpesvirus Herpes Simplex Keratitis Herpes simplex keratitis is an eye infection that involves the cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil) and is caused by herpes simplex virus. The infection commonly recurs and... read more ) can be triggered to recur by physical stress or may recur spontaneously. A deficiency of vitamin A and protein may lead to the formation of a corneal ulcer. However, such ulcers are rare in the United States.

When the eyelids do not close properly, the cornea may become dry and irritated. This kind of irritation can lead to injury and the development of a corneal ulcer. Corneal ulcers may also result from in-growing eyelashes (trichiasis Trichiasis Trichiasis is misalignment of eyelashes, which rub against the eyeball, in a person who does not have entropion. Trichiasis develops most commonly some time after chronic blepharitis (inflammation... read more ), an in-turned eyelid (entropion Entropion and Ectropion Entropion is a condition in which the eyelid is turned inward (inverted), causing the eyelashes to rub against the eyeball. Ectropion is a condition in which the eyelid is turned outward (everted)... read more ), or eyelid inflammation (blepharitis Blepharitis Blepharitis is inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, possibly with thickening scales, crusts, shallow ulcers, or redness and swelling at the edges of the eyelids. The inflammation is caused... read more ).

Corneal ulcers cause redness, pain, usually a feeling like a foreign object is in the eye (foreign body sensation), aching, sensitivity to bright light, and increased tear production. The ulcer often appears as a white or dull and grayish spot on the cornea. Sometimes, ulcers develop over the entire cornea and may penetrate deeply. Pus may accumulate behind the cornea, sometimes forming a white layer at the bottom of the cornea (called a hypopyon). The conjunctiva usually is bloodshot. The deeper the ulcer, the more severe the symptoms and complications.

Doctors evaluate the ulcer by using a slit lamp What Is a Slit Lamp? (an instrument that enables doctors to examine the eye under high magnification). To see an ulcer clearly, a doctor may apply eye drops that contain a yellow-green dye called fluorescein. The fluorescein temporarily stains damaged areas of the cornea, making it possible for the doctor to see damaged areas of the cornea that are not otherwise visible.

In some situations, doctors scrape the surface of large ulcers for a sample. The sample is then grown in a laboratory (cultured) to identify the bacterium, fungus, virus, or protozoa causing the infection. Once the organism is identified, doctors choose the best drug to fight the infection.

A corneal ulcer is an emergency that should be treated immediately.

Antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal eye drops are usually needed immediately and must be given frequently, sometimes every hour around the clock for several days.

Drops that dilate the eye, such as atropine or scopolamine, can help with pain and reduce the chance of complications.

Corneal transplantation Corneal Transplantation Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is a common and highly successful type of transplantation. A scarred, severely painful, perforated, misshapen, or cloudy cornea (the clear layer in front... read more (keratoplasty) is sometimes needed.