Can chronic keratitis cause blindness?

Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Chronic bacterial conjunctivitis generally does not cause blindness. Its main clinical symptoms include itching, burning, dryness, eye pain, and visual fatigue. The conjunctiva is mildly congested and may be accompanied by thickening of the palpebral conjunctiva, papillary hypertrophy, and mucous secretions. Moraxella can cause canthal conjunctivitis, which is accompanied by crusting and ulceration of the skin at the outer canthus, and hypertrophy of the palpebral conjunctiva's papillae and follicles. Staphylococcus aureus infections are often accompanied by ulcerative blepharitis, or peripheral corneal punctate infiltration.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Can chronic keratitis cause blindness?

Chronic bacterial conjunctivitis generally does not cause blindness. Its main clinical symptoms include itching, burning, dryness, eye pain, and visual fatigue. The conjunctiva is mildly congested and may be accompanied by thickening of the palpebral conjunctiva, papillary hypertrophy, and mucous secretions. Moraxella can cause canthal conjunctivitis, which is accompanied by crusting and ulceration of the skin at the outer canthus, and hypertrophy of the palpebral conjunctiva's papillae and follicles. Staphylococcus aureus infections are often accompanied by ulcerative blepharitis, or peripheral corneal punctate infiltration.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Can recurrent keratitis be cured?

Recurrent episodes of keratitis are incurable. If keratitis is caused by a viral infection, it usually leads to symptoms such as red eyes, eye pain, photophobia, and tearing. After the inflammation subsides with antiviral medication treatment, the virus will hide within the nerve fibers of the corneal tissue. When the body's immune system is weakened, during a cold, or when fatigued, the virus can replicate again, causing a recurrence of keratitis. Therefore, to reduce recurrent episodes of keratitis, patients should focus on regular physical exercise to strengthen their constitution, maintain sufficient sleep, and avoid catching colds. These actions can enhance the body's immunity, effectively reducing the frequency of keratitis attacks, and thus protect eye health.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Is it normal for keratitis to occur every year?

Keratitis is a common ophthalmic disease, occurring as an infection in the black eyeball area of the eye. Recurrent viral keratitis is a normal phenomenon, as the virus can remain dormant within the corneal nerve fibers even after recovery. Triggers such as fatigue, colds, or weakened immunity can cause the virus to replicate again, leading to a recurrence of keratitis. Symptoms include eye congestion, redness, stinging, foreign body sensation, photophobia, tearing, and decreased vision. Doctors use a slit-lamp microscope to observe the cornea, where dendritic or map-like lesions can be seen. Treatment involves using antiviral eye drops to alleviate symptoms, such as acyclovir eye drops, ganciclovir eye drops, and interferon eye drops. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Shi Ji Peng
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of neonatal keratitis

After a newborn develops keratitis, symptoms such as eye discomfort, tearing, increased tear secretion, and congestion may occur. If the cornea is infected due to disease or trauma, the inflammation of the cornea will inevitably affect the vision to varying degrees, especially if the inflammation invades the pupil area, which is more severe. After the ulcer heals, the resulting corneal scar not only obstructs the entry of light into the eye but also causes changes in the curvature and refractive index of the corneal surface, affecting vision. Generally, for newborns, the symptoms are caused by non-severe illnesses, so they are usually mild, mostly involving tearing or even secretion. In such cases, eye medications should be used early for treatment. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Eye membrane inflammation generally refers to the whites of the eyes, which is conjunctivitis, while corneal inflammation refers to the black part of the eyes. Both conjunctivitis and corneal inflammation should be actively treated. The symptoms of conjunctivitis include red eyes, swelling, pain, tearing, photophobia, increased secretion, foreign body sensation, and burning sensation, generally not affecting vision. In addition to the above symptoms, corneal inflammation has more pronounced symptoms of corneal irritation, such as increased sensitivity to light and more severe tearing. If corneal inflammation is not actively treated, it may later lead to thinning of the cornea, spots, and opacities, severely affecting vision. If not treated properly, corneal ulcers can perforate, leading to complete loss of vision, or blindness.