Corneal Ulcer: Red & Painful Eye (Refer) Flashcards
What are corneal ulcers?
An open sore of the cornea
What is the presentation of corneal ulcers?
Eye pain Red-eye Irritation/foreign-body sensation Photophobia Watering eye Blurred vision
What are risk factors or corneal ulcers?
Contact lens use
What are the investigation of corneal ulcers?
Slit-lamp +focal fluorescein staining of the cornea
Scraping can be taken to identify causative organism
What is the treatment of corneal ulcers?
Emergency, may result in loss of vision or blindness
Emergency referal to opthalmology
High-potency antibiotics, analgesia
Steroid drops
What are the causes of corneal ulcers?
Infection Physical and chemical trauma Herpes Simplex Keratitis Corneal drying and exposure Contact lens overwear and misuse
What does a corneal ulcer look like?
Gray to white opaque or translucent area on the normally clear and transparent cornea
What is herpes simplex keratitis?
Commonly presents with a dendritic corneal ulcer
What are the features of herpes simplex keratitis?
Red, painful eye
Photophobia
Epiphora (watering eye)
Visual acuity may be decreased
Fluorescein staining may show an epitherlial ulcer
What is the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis?
Immediate referral to an opthalmologist
Topical aciclovir
