cornea Flashcards
define and RFsbacterial keratitis
Bacterial infection of the cornea is common and sight-threatening.
epithelial defect -> entrance into stoma -> inflammation
It is more common in contact lens wearers (soft lenses > rigid lenses), especially with overnight wear and poor lens hygiene.
common organisms of bacterial keratitis
RFs for bacterial kertatitis
● Pseudomonas aeruginosa (most common cause of keratitis in contact lens wearers). - GRAM -VE BACILLI
● Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci infections.
GRAM POSITIVE COCCI
grown on blood agar
RFs
- contact lens wearer
- trauma
- contaminated eye drops
- immunosuppresion
clinical features of bacterial keratitis
presentation
● Unilateral sudden-onset pain, redness, blurred vision and photophobia with associated discharge and dVA.
● Purulent or mucopurulent discharge.
SIGNS
stromal oedema
● Circumcorneal injection.
● White infiltrates epithelial and stromal involvement.
● Anterior chamber cells and
rapid progression of infiltration hypopyon in severe keratitis.
- epithelial defect w infiltration
complications of bacterial keratitis
organisms doesn’t cause epithelial defect
Corneal perforation; this is more likely with the following organisms additionally they do not need epithelial defect
● Neisseria gonorrhoeae
● Corynebacterium diphtheriae
● Haemophilus influenzae
Ix for bacterial keratitis
corneal scrapping (blood/chocolate agar)
- staph aureus grown on blood agar forming golden colonies with a shiny surface
- neiserriea gonorrhoea grown on chocolate agar
gram/giesma stain
Most bacteria Fungi Mycobacterium Acanthamoeba
INVESTIGATIONS
Blood/chocolate agar and gram/Giemsa stain Sabouraud agar and gram/Giemsa stain Ziehl-Neelsen stain and Lowenstein Jensen medium Non-nutrient agar with Escherichia coli
Mx of bacterial keratities
• Usually 7 day topical antibiotic course, initially hourly day and night for 2 days then taper.
1st line:
• Topical fluorquinolones (levofloxacin and moxifloxacin)
Symptomatic control:
• Topical cycloplegic (cyclopentolate, atropine) for comfort + to prevent posterior synechiae if marked inflammation.
fluoroquinolones - ciprofloxacin
discontinuation of contact lens
mydriatics - prevent formation of posterior synaechiae and to reduce pain
causes and RFs of fungal keratitis
yeasts - Candida
RFs who are immunocompromised (AIDS diabetics immunosuppressant such as steroids). contact lens
Filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus or Fusarium - ocular trauma, classically from contaminated plant matter or a tree branch.
features of fungal keratitis
specifically for
candida
filamentous
unilateral redness
tearing
blurred vision
mild pain
photophobia.
● Candida: Small ulcer with an expanding infiltrate in a ‘collar stud’ formation.
● Filamentous: Feathery branching-like infiltrate pattern.
ix for fungal keratitis
scrapings for microscopy
corneal biopsy if Sx does not improve after 3-4 days
confocal microscopy
Mx of fungal keratitis
● Natamycin drops for proven filamentous.
● Voriconazole or amphotericin B drops for proven Candida.
acanthamoeba keratitis
acanthamoeba
RFs - improper lens hygiene (showering/swimming in contact lenses).
features of acanthamoeba keratitis
● with pain that is out of proportion to clinical signs, - photophobia
- blurred vision.
● In early disease - not specific to Acanthamoeba. mistaken for HSV due to dendrites
Late disease, perineural infiltrates and ring-shaped stromal infiltrates can be seen.
Ix for acanthameoba keratitis
corneal scrapping - periodic aid-schoff or caloflour white
confocal miscroscopy - identify amoebic cysts
grown on non-nutrient agar seeded with ecoli
Mx for acanthamoeba keratitis
debridement
topical polyhexamethylene biguanide or chlorhexidine.
what is HSV keratitis
DSDNA
HSV 1 - anything above the waist
HSV 2 - anything sexual
Primary infection results in blepharoconjunctivitis.
Latent in the trigeminal ganglion.
Reactivation usually results in recurrent keratitis.
Keratitis may affect the epithelial, stromal or endothelial layers of the cornea.
features of epithelial keratitis
Reactivation of the HSV presents
- pain
- dVA
- lacrimation
- foreign body sensation.
- blurred vision
signs of epithelial keratitis
histology
● Superficial punctate keratitis which
1) causes a stellate (star-shaped) erosion
2) classic dendritic ulcer which can be clearly seen with fluorescein. (Note: Epithelial cells at the dendrite margin stain well with rose Bengal.)
• Rose Bengal stains heaped-up epithelium/ Fluorescein stains ulcer
● Reduced corneal sensation.
- topical steroid may worsen it and cause geographic ulcer which is bigger
- elevated IOP may occur
histology
intranuclear inclusions bodies
what is disciform keratitis (endothelial)
hypersensitivity reaction to viral antigen, rather than reactivation
presentation of disciform keratitis
insidious onset of painless dVA.
ass w haloes around lights
signs of disciform keratitis
● Central circular stromal oedema
● There is usually mild anterior chamber activity
● Keratitic precipitates
● Wessely ring: Antigen/antibody complex
Ix of disciform keratitis
aided by corneal swabs for PCR or Giemsa staining which shows multinuclear giant cells.
Mx of epithelial keratitis
Topical acyclovir.
Avoid steroids: May lead to geographic ulcer and corneal perforation.
Mx of disciform keratitis
- Oral acyclovir 400 mg five times a day and low dose steroids
- Avoid topical steroids until epithelium is intact. Use the lowest effective dose of dexamethasone or prednisolone if indicated.
herpes zoster opthalmicus infection caused by
varicella zoster virus (VZV). Primary infection usually leads to chickenpox.
reactivation leads to shingles (herpes zoster) of the affected dermatome. Thus, HZO refers to shingles affecting the dermatome supplied by CNV1
cutaneous features of herpez zoster opthalmicus
- malaise, fever, headache
● Rash (vesicles or papules).
● Painful neuralgia.
● Hutchinson sign: Involvement of the tip of the nose. Indicates a higher
likelihood for ocular disease due to the involvement of the nasociliary nerve.
opthalmic features of HZO and what differentiates HZO from HSV
● Epithelial keratitis: Pseudo-dendrites are the differentiating feature from HSV keratitis. - grey, not ulcerated - less branching - lacking in terminal bulbs. - These stain poorly with fluorescein. ● Conjunctivitis. ● Elevated IOP. ● Stromal and disciform keratitis are less common.
chronically - neutrotriphic keratitis
Mx of HZO
● Oral acyclovir 800 mg five times a day.
● Amitriptyline for neuropathic pain.
what is interstitial keratitis
stromal inflammation WITHOUT PRIMARY INVOLVEMENT OF EPITHELIUM OR ENDOTHELIUM ± neovascularization
pathophysiology of interstitial keratitis
invasion of microorganism or an immune reaction to a foreign antigen.
features of interstitial keratitis
● Pain, dVA and photophobia.
● Non-ulcerated stromal keratitis characterized by feathery mid-stromal
scarring with ghost vessels.
aetiology of interstitial keratitis
syphillis
lyme disease
viral - HSV and VZV, EBV
cogan syndrome
syphillis features of interstitial kertatitis
TREPONEMA PALLIDUM
Congenital disease usually causes bilateral corneal involvement, while acquired disease is usually unilateral.
acutely - anterior uveitis and blurring of vision
Hutchinson triad of congenital syphilis (late feature): Interstitial keratitis, notched teeth and sensorineural deafness.
SIGNS
- obscuration of perfused vessles - ‘salmon-patch’ appearance
- corneal clouding
- vessles become non perfused - GHOST VESSELS
- healed - stromal scarring
Treatment: IM benzylpenicillin and topical steroids.
lyme disease features for interstitial keratitis
Caused by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia, which is transmitted to humans via a tick bite.
Causes erythema migrans (bull’s-eye skin rash), arthralgia, facial palsy, loss of temporal eyebrows and interstitial keratitis.
cogan syndrome features of interstitial keratitis
complications
mx
Autoimmune disorder.
- intraocular inflammation
- vestibuloauditory dysfunction
Interstitial keratitis with sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus.
- redness, pain, photophobia and blurred vision
Complications: Polyarteritis nodosa.
Mx - topical steroids
what is marginal keratitis
A type of peripheral corneal inflammation due to a type III hypersensitivity reaction to staphylococcal exotoxin, mainly Staphylococcus aureus.