Cornea Care in South Carolina

Keratitis is a condition where the cornea—the clear, round dome covering the eye’s iris and pupil—becomes swollen or inflamed, making the eye red and painful and affecting vision. Keratitis is also known as a corneal ulcer.

Some forms of keratitis may involve infection, including bacterial keratitis, viral keratitis, fungal keratitis, and parasitic keratitis.

Contact lens wearers need to remember that infectious keratitis can result from not caring for your contact lenses properly.

A non-infectious form of keratitis may be caused by a simple fingernail scratch or from wearing your contact lenses too long. Whatever form of keratitis you may have, it is crucial that you see an ophthalmologist right away. Waiting to have your keratitis diagnosed and treated can lead to serious complications, including blindness.

Keratitis or corneal ulcer causes can include:

• Bacterial infection
• Viral infection
• Fungal infection (from plant material in the eye)
• Parasitic infection
• Improper cleaning and/or care for contact lenses
• Wearing contact lenses too long
• Injury (scratch)
• Vitamin A deficiency (rare)

Keratitis or corneal ulcer treatment depends on the type and severity of this corneal problem. Antibacterial or antifungal eye drops may be used to treat corneal infections. Sometimes steroid eye drops may be necessary to reduce the inflammation (swelling) of keratitis.

If the cornea is severely scarred or thinning has occurred, a corneal transplant may be needed to restore vision.

It is important to remember that keratitis must be treated early to reduce the risk of complications, and it is likely that frequent visits to an ophthalmologist may be needed to fully treat this corneal problem.

A corneal ulcer is an open sore in the surface layer of the eye, typically caused by a corneal infection or cornea swelling (keratitis). Keratitis can be infectious (bacterial, viral, or fungal) or non-infectious (eye injury). Chronic dry eye and unsterilized contact lenses are also risk factors.

In addition to symptoms caused by keratitis, corneal ulcers can also cause:

• Blurry vision
• Eye discharge or pus
• Eye inflammation
• Eyelid swelling
• Eye soreness
• Feeling something stuck in the eye
• Light sensitivity
• Watery eyes
• White spot on the cornea

A corneal ulcer can be treated with antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal eye medication. By treating the infection, swelling may reduce, allowing the sore to heal. An eye doctor may also prescribe corticosteroid eye drops to help with inflammation.

In severe cases, a corneal transplant may be necessary to remove the damaged tissue.

Dry eye is a common condition affecting tear production or quality. When tears work effectively, they protect, nourish, and lubricate the eye’s surface. When your eyes don’t produce enough tears or lack necessary components, it can result in:

• Blurry vision
• Eye redness
• Gritty or scratchy eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Stringy mucus
• Watery eyes

Untreated chronic dry eye can cause cornea inflammation and damage, leading to impaired vision. Dry eye therapy can help patients find relief and help protect the cornea.

Fuchs’ dystrophy is a disease of the cornea. It is when cells in the corneal layer called the endothelium die off. These cells normally pump fluid from the cornea to keep it clear. When they die, fluid builds up and the cornea gets swollen and puffy. Vision becomes cloudy or hazy.

Fuchs’ dystrophy has two stages. In the early stage (stage 1), you may notice few, if any, problems. In the later stage (stage 2), your blurry or hazy vision will not get better as the day goes on. Here are other symptoms:

• Sandy or gritty feeling in your eyes
• Eye pain from the tiny blisters in the cell layer of the cornea
• Being extra sensitive to bright light
• Eye problems get worse in humid areas
• Very blurry or hazy vision from scarring at the center of the cornea

To diagnose these conditions, your ophthalmologist will look closely at your cornea and measure its thickness. This is called pachymetry. They will also check for tiny blisters. Using a special photograph of your cornea, your ophthalmologist may count the cells in your endothelium.

There is no cure for Fuchs’ dystrophy. However, you can control vision problems from corneal swelling. Your treatment depends on how Fuchs’ dystrophy affects your eye’s cells, and may include:

• Eye Drop medicine or ointment to reduce swelling of the cornea’s cells.
• Endothelial keratoplasty (EK): Healthy endothelial cells are transplanted into your cornea.
• Full corneal transplant: The center of your cornea is replaced with a healthy donor cornea.

Your ophthalmologist will discuss what treatments are best for your condition.

Keratoconus is a vision disorder resulting from a cornea that is too thin or irregularly shaped. The “conus” part of the name comes from the cone-like shape that can occur. The abnormal shape prevents the cornea from focusing light correctly.

In the early stages of keratoconus, symptoms may include slightly blurry vision and increased light sensitivity. As the disorder develops, the cornea bulges and symptoms can increase significantly. In some cases, the cornea can swell and crack. Although the crack can heal, it becomes scar tissue which can interfere with cornea function. Swelling can also continue without treatment.

When symptoms appear can depend on the cause and when the disorder began. It can commonly develop in the late teens or early 20s, typically progressing for 10–20 years before slowing. Keratoconus can be inherited, but frequent eye rubbing is also a risk factor.

Contact lenses and contact lenses can help correct mild astigmatism or myopia caused by keratoconus. In later stages of development, rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses or surgery may be necessary to preserve vision.

Corneal cross-linking treatment can strengthen or reinforce the cornea. It can slow progression, but cannot reverse corneal bulging or thinning. Another option is a corneal transplant surgery, which replaces the cornea or a portion of the cornea.