Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. It can be caused by infections (microbial keratitis) or other factors like injury or dry eye. Symptoms include eye pain, redness, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent vision loss. Infectious Keratitis (Microbial Keratitis): Bacterial Keratitis: Often caused by bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus, especially in contact lens wearers. Viral Keratitis: Commonly caused by herpes simplex virus (cold sores) or other viruses. Fungal Keratitis: Less common, but can occur after eye injuries or with contact lens wear. Parasitic Keratitis (Acanthamoeba Keratitis): Can be caused by the parasite Acanthamoeba, often linked to poor contact lens hygiene. Non-Infectious Keratitis: Contact Lens-Related Keratitis: Prolonged wear, improper care, or wearing lenses while sleeping can irritate the cornea. Dry Eye: Insufficient tears can lead to corneal inflammation and keratitis. Injury: Trauma, scratches, or burns to the cornea can cause keratitis. Systemic Diseases: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes cause keratitis. Symptoms: Eye pain. Redness and swelling of the eye. Blurred or reduced vision. Sensitivity to light (photophobia). Gritty feeling in the eye. Excessive tearing or discharge. Difficulty opening the eyelids. Treatment: Infectious Keratitis: Treatment typically involves antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal eye drops or medications, depending on the cause. Non-Infectious Keratitis: Treatment may include artificial tears, lubricating drops, or other measures to relieve symptoms. Severe Cases: In some cases, corneal transplantation may be necessary.

1. Department
of
Medical Surgical Nursing

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lecture students will be able to:
• Define keratitis
• Enlist the causes of keratitis
• List out the clinical features of keratitis
• Enlist the diagnostic evaluation of keratitis
• Describe the treatment of keratitis
• Explain the surgical management & methods
of corneal preservation

3. Introduction
• The corneal diseases are one of the leading
causes of blindness in the world. in most
cases, these infections are preventable or
treatable

4. KERATITIS
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea.

5. ETIOLOGY
• Infection: bacterial, fungal, viral, chlamydial &
protozoal
• Mechanical: trauma, chemical burns & thermal
burns, use of contact lenses
• Allergic substances: animal bite, dust, pollens
• Causative organism: Gonorrhoea,klebsiella,
staphylococcus aureus, candida, herpes simplex
virus

6. Risk Factors
• Recent eye trauma
• Underlying ocular (eye)
disease
• Weakened immune system
• Contact lens use
• Long term exposed to UV
rays
• Foreign body object
• Vit. A deficiency
• corticosteroid use

7. SIGN & SYMPTOMS
• Photophobia
• Pain
• Irritation
• Watery & redness of eyes
• Blurry vision
• Lids are swollen
• Blepharospasm

8. DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION
• History collection
• Eye examination
• Ophthalmoscopic examination
• Wet swab for gram stained films for fungal
infection examination

9. TREATMENT
• Medical:
• Topical antibiotics eye drops e.g. GH.
• Topical cycloplegic drugs preferably 1%
atropine eye ointment or eyedrops to paralyse
ciliary muscle & to reduce pain.

10. - systemic analgesic
- vitamin A, B complex & C to help in early
healing the ulcer
- hot fomentation

11. - for fungal infection administer antifungal
drugs.
- in case of viral keratitis administer topical
acyclovir eye ointment.

12. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
• KERATOPLASTY: also called as “ corneal
grafting” or corneal transplantation .
it is a operation in which the patients disease
cornea is replaced by the donors healthy cornea.

13. Methods of corneal preservation
• Short term storage
• Intermediate storage
• Long term storage

14. Summary
• So far we have discussed about definition,
causes, clinical manifestations, diagnostic
evaluation and managements of keratitis

15. Bibliography
• Lewis et al, Medical Surgical Nursing, Mosby
Elsevier,7th
edition.
• Joyce.M.Black et al, Medical Surgical
Nursing, Saunders publication.
• Brunner and Siddhartha, Medical Surgical
Nursing, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

16. THANKS.