Keratitis

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

inflammation of the cornea. Microbial keratitis is not like conjunctivitis - it is potentially sight threatening and should therefore be urgently evaluated and treated.

Question 2

cause

Answer 2

bacterial
fungal
amoebic
parasitic
viral
environmental

Question 3

bacterial causes

Answer 3

staph aureus

pseudomonas aeruginosa - contact lens

Question 4

amoebic causes

Answer 4

acanthamoebic keratitis - soil exposure or contaminated water

pain is out of proportion to findings

Question 5

parasitic causes

Answer 5

onchocercal keratitis (‘river blindness’)

Question 6

viral causes

Answer 6

herpes simplex

Question 7

environmental causes

Answer 7

photokeratitis: e.g. welder’s arc eye
exposure keratitis
contact lens acute red eye (CLARE)

Question 8

clinical features

Answer 8

red eye: pain and erythema
photophobia
foreign body, gritty sensation
hypopyon may be seen

Question 9

mx

Answer 9

refer to ophthalmology

stop contact lens until sx resolve

topic abx - quinolones 1st line

cycloplegic for pain relief - cyclopentolate

Question 10

complications

Answer 10

corneal scarring

perforation

endophthalmitis

visual loss

Question 11

what is endophthalmitis

Answer 11

a purulent inflammation of the intraocular fluids (vitreous and aqueous) usually due to infection.