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The cornea has a rich sensorial innervation, therefore its diseases are associated with pain. The cause of inflammatory changes in the cornea can be bacteria, viruses or fungi.
Cornea – bacterial inflammation
The most common cause of keratitis are purulent bacteria (e.g. staphylococci, streptococci) penetrating the cornea, the epithelium of which was previously damaged as a result of trauma, eyelid regurgitation, too long wearing of contact lenses or weakened tissue resistance due to the pathological process of the eyeball surface. Often the source of the bacteria is inflamed conjunctiva or the lacrimal sac. The cornea forms an infiltrate that quickly disintegrates, producing ulcers that cover part or all of the cornea. The disease manifests itself as severe eye pain, photophobia, tearing and progressive deterioration of vision. The eye is bloodshot and the cornea is dull, with an uneven surface.
Bacterial inflammation is a very dangerous disease as it can lead to loss of sight and even the eye.
Treatment
It must be carried out in a hospital setting as the disease progresses quickly and only the early administration of appropriate medications can prevent its serious consequences. As a rule, however, after healing, a white scar called endosperm remains in the cornea.
The most common viral inflammation of the cornea is herpes caused by a common virus, which also causes inflammatory changes in the skin and lips (the so-called cold). Many people carry this virus, which is triggered by a general decline in immunity, by fever, overheating or cooling of the body. Infiltrates form on the cornea, it becomes dull, the eye is bloodshot, accompanied by severe pain, lacrimation, photophobia and visual impairment. The disease is prone to relapse and can cause permanent changes in the cornea.
Treatment
It involves the use of special drugs and treatments that can only be performed by an ophthalmologist.
Cornea – epidemic inflammation
Another common viral disease of the conjunctiva and cornea is epidemic inflammation.
The symptoms of the disease are stormy. There is a large swelling of the conjunctiva, hyperemia and pain in the eye, there is abundant discharge. Sometimes general symptoms such as headache, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, parotid and cervical, are added. After a week, infiltrates form in the cornea, causing visual disturbances and increasing pain. Conjunctival changes gradually regress, while corneal changes persist for many weeks. The disease is contagious and spreads through contact with the sick person and with the objects he used. Sometimes the source of infection is poorly stored eye medications or inadequately sterilized ophthalmic instruments.
Treatment
Must be led by an ophthalmologist. Prevention is important, which consists in observing personal hygiene and maintaining sterility of drugs and ophthalmic instruments.
Cornea – fungal infections
The fungal infections of the cornea occur more and more parts. They are caused – like conjunctival infections – by the overuse of drugs containing antibiotics and corticosteroids. Hardly healing infiltrates and ulcers form in the cornea, leading to the destruction of the cornea and its scarring.
Treatment
They should be carried out in hospitals and ophthalmic clinics.
Cornea of the eye – other diseases
Corneal inflammation of the eye can accompany various diseases of the conjunctiva and such general diseases as shingles, rosacea, tuberculosis, congenital syphilis, avitaminosis A and B. In such cases, the help of an ophthalmologist is always necessary.
Eyes that are blinded for a variety of reasons can develop blistering corneal degeneration that bursts amid symptoms of severe eye pain and irritation. The disease is chronic and very troublesome as new blisters are constantly forming in the cornea.
Treatment
When diseases of the cornea result in its extensive opacity (endosperm), vision can be improved by performing corneal transplant surgery (keratoplasty). This procedure has been performed for several decades in specialized ophthalmic centers, also in Poland. Another method of treating corneal diseases is laser PTK treatment.
The PTK laser treatment is offered by the Eyemed ophthalmology clinic. You can buy it without leaving your home at medonetmarket.pl.
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