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Keratitis (corneal infection and ulcer)

Keratitis (ulcus corneae) · Keratitida (zánět a vřed rohovky)

What it is

The clear front of the eye is infected or inflamed — often from contact lenses; it can scar and blind within days.

Symptoms & signs

  • Painful red eye
  • blurred vision
  • light sensitivity
  • feeling of something in the eye
  • white spot on the cornea
  • discharge

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Painful red eye with blurred vision in a contact lens wearer
  • call 112 / 911 now A white spot on the clear front of the eye
  • see a doctor soon Eye pain with strong sensitivity to light
  • see a doctor soon Red, watery eye not better in 2 days

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Same-day eye specialist review
  • intensive antibiotic drops (ofloxacin, fortified drops)
  • antivirals for herpes keratitis
  • antifungals, or PHMB for Acanthamoeba
  • corneal transplant for scarring

Natural & lifestyle

  • Never sleep or swim in contact lenses
  • no tap water on lenses or cases
  • replace lens cases monthly

Emerging & experimental

  • Corneal cross-linking for infection (PACK-CXL)
  • rose bengal photodynamic therapy

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Manuka honey eye drops — small trials in dry eye; not for infection early / small studies
  • Breast milk, colloidal silver or herbal eyewashes — anecdotal; can bring infection and delay sight-saving treatment anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes