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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffKeratitis is an inflammation of the cornea — the clear, dome-shaped tissue on the front of your eye that covers the pupil and iris. Keratitis may or may not involve an infection. Noninfectious keratitis can be caused by a relatively minor injury, such as a fingernail scratch, or from wearing your contact lenses too long. Infectious keratitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
If you have eye redness or other symptoms of keratitis, make an appointment to see your doctor. With prompt attention, mild to moderate cases of keratitis can usually be effectively treated without loss of vision. If left untreated, or if an infection is severe, keratitis can lead to serious complications that may permanently damage your vision.
- Facts about the cornea and corneal disease. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdisease/. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Horton JC. Disorders of the eye. In: Fauci AS. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2888372. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Keratitis. In: Nicoll D, et al. Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/pocketDiagnostic.aspx?type=5. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Dart JKG, et al. Risk factors for microbial keratitis with contemporary contact lenses. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:1647.
- Contact lens risks. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/ContactLenses/ucm062589.htm. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Jacobs DS. Evaluation of the red eye. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Reed SL. Amebiasis and infection with free-living amebas. In: Fauci AS. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2892843. May 17, 2010.
- Bacterial keratitis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.aao.org/eyesmart/infections/bacterial_keratitis.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Sugar A. Herpes simplex keratitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Contact lens-related infections. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/infections/lens_related.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Herpes keratitis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/infections/herpes_keratitis.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Acanthamoeba keratitis FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/acanthamoeba/gen_info/acanthamoeba_keratitis.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
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