What is a Corneal Infection?

A corneal infection is an infection in the cornea, the clear lens which covers the eye. Infections in the cornea are an ocular emergency and should be treated immediately by a doctor, preferably an eye care expert although general practitioners and emergency physicians can often provide emergency treatment. Failure to treat an infection in a timely fashion can result in loss of the entire eye in severe cases of corneal infection and lesser complications can still be very serious.

Numerous organisms can be involved in a corneal infection. The eye can be a very hospitable place for viruses, fungi, and bacteria, all of which may thrive on the nutrient-rich moisture which lubricates the eye. Someone can develop a corneal infection for a wide variety of reasons.

Some common causes include: prolonged contact lens wear or wearing poorly fitted contacts, abrasions to the eye, allergies, touching the eyes after handling infectious material, environmental exposure, severe dry eyes, chronic eye disease which leads to ulceration and makes the eye vulnerable to infection, and eye trauma. Someone with a corneal infection will experience keratitis, in which the cornea becomes inflamed as a result of an immune system response.

Signs of a corneal infection can include itchy or dry eyes, discharges from the eye, blurred vision, or pain around the eye. The first step in treatment for a corneal infection involves an evaluation to determine what is causing the infection. A doctor can take a small swab from the eye for culture to determine which organisms are involved. This allows the doctor to prescribe an appropriate antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medication, usually in the form of eye drops delivered directly to the eye.

While waiting for culture results, a doctor may start a patient on antiinflammatory drugs for the keratitis. Patients may also be advised to use gentle eyewashes and poultices to keep the eye clean and reduce some of the itching, pain, and swelling which can be associated with a corneal infection. If a doctor has strong reason to suspect that bacteria are involved, a broad spectrum antibiotic may be prescribed right away.

A corneal infection can cause scarring, which may lead to vision complications including partial vision loss. In addition, people can lose their vision totally as a result of a corneal infection. In extreme cases, the infection is severe enough that the entire eye must be removed to prevent it from spreading.