Corneal ulcer
| Corneal ulcer | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ulcerative keratitis |
| Corneal ulcer resulting from bacterial keratitis | |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
| Symptoms | Pain, photophobia, blurry vision |
| Complications | Scarring, vision loss, uveitis, glaucoma, cataract formation |
| Causes | Bacterial, fungal, viral, or protozoal infection; immune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis [scleroderma], rosacea) |
| Prevention | Proper contact lens hygiene |
| Treatment | Antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral eye drops |
| Prognosis | Good with prompt treatment |
Corneal ulcer, often resulting from keratitis is an inflammatory or, more seriously, infective condition of the cornea involving disruption of its epithelial layer with involvement of the corneal stroma. It is a common condition in humans particularly in the tropics and in farming. In developing countries, children afflicted by vitamin A deficiency are at high risk for corneal ulcer and may become blind in both eyes persisting throughout life. In ophthalmology, a corneal ulcer usually refers to having an infection, while the term corneal abrasion refers more to a scratch injury.