Corneal
infections
.. ..
| This is a potentially
sight threatening condition. Avoid using steroid if corneal infection can
not be excluded as steroid can worsen the infection.
Presentation:
-
Painful red eye
-
Photophobia
-
There may be a history of contact lens
use or previous herpes keratitis.
Examination:
-
The visual acuity is reduced
-
Fluorescein dye reveals corneal defect
-
In severe bacterial infection, there
may be hypopyon (pus in the anterior chamber)
Management:
-
Refers within 24 hours
-
In herpes keratitis, topical acyclovir
3% five times a day is prescribed for one week
-
In bacterial corneal ulcer, the patient
may be admitted for intensive antibiotic treatment
if severe or treated as an out-patient
if mild.
|
Figure 1.
This patient suffers from herpetic
keratitis. . Fluorescein staining reveals
a dendritic ulcer typical of herpes
keratitis. This is treated with topical
3% acyclovir |
|
Figure 2
This woman presented with a one
day history of severe right ocular pain.
She used extended contact lenses
and was not complying with the cleaning
instruction. The picture shows a
corneal ulcer with hypopyon. She was
admitted for intensive antibiotics.
Culture of the ulcer grew Psuedomonas
aeruginosa. The infection
responded to combined intensive gentamicin and
cefuroxime eyedrops. |
Return
to the red eyes |
|