Keratitis

Question 1

What is keratitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the cornea

Question 2

What are the pathogenic causes of keratitis?

Answer 2

Bacterial
- Staphylococcus aureus most common
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa seen in contact lens wearers
Fungal
Amoebic
Parasitic
Viral
- Herpes simplex keratitis

Question 3

What are the clinical features of keratitis?

Answer 3

Red eye
Painful eye
Photophobia
Gritty sensation
Hypopyon

Question 4

What is hypopyon?

Answer 4

Where an accumulation of white blood cells form a whitish layer of fluid in the lower portion of the eye’s anterior chamber

Question 5

What is the most common cause of keratitis?

Answer 5

Herpes simplex keratitis

Question 6

How is keratitis diagnosed?

Answer 6

Slit lamp examination
Corneal scrapings for viral testing

Question 7

What is seen on slit lamp examination in herpes simplex keratitis?

Answer 7

Fluorescein staining shows a dendritic corneal ulcer - there is a branching appearance of the ulcer

Question 8

What is the management of bacterial keratitis?

Answer 8

Topical antibiotics
- First line - quinolones e.g ciprofloxacin

Stop using contact lens until symptoms are fully resolved

Question 9

What is the management of herpes simplex keratitis?

Answer 9

Topical or oral antivirals - aciclovir or ganciclovir