How to treat keratitis

Keratitis is a common eye disease. This disease is caused by internal and external causes. It is mainly caused by corneal trauma, which leads to inflammation caused by bacterial and viral infection. Patients will feel very uncomfortable, always feel that there is something in their eyes, always feel stinging, and also have a burning sensation. Patients are very afraid of light and often shed tears. They must be treated as soon as possible. So how to treat keratitis?

Keratitis will have a great impact on our daily life. The eyes will feel very uncomfortable and stinging, and it will always feel like something has entered the eyes. This will also seriously affect your mood. You must choose a good method for treatment in time. So how to treat keratitis?

Clinical manifestations

With the exception of paralytic keratitis, most patients with keratitis experience severe inflammatory symptoms such as pain, photophobia, tearing, and blepharospasm. Patients with keratitis not only have ciliary congestion, but also iris congestion. In severe cases, the conjunctiva and even the eyelids may become edematous.

Corneal inflammation will inevitably affect vision to some extent, especially when the inflammation invades the pupil area, it is more serious. The corneal scar formed after the ulcer heals not only blocks the light from entering the eye, but also changes the curvature and refractive power of the corneal surface, making it impossible for objects to be focused on the retina to form a clear image, thereby reducing vision. The extent of vision loss depends entirely on the location of the scar. If it is located in the center of the cornea, even if the scar is small, it will have a great impact on vision.

treat

The basic principle of treating corneal ulcers is to take all effective measures to quickly control the infection, strive for early cure, and minimize the sequelae of keratitis. Since most ulcerative keratitis is caused by external factors, it is extremely important to eliminate the external factors and pathogenic microorganisms. To help diagnose the cause, a smear should be taken from the progressive edge of the corneal ulcer for bacterial culture and drug sensitivity testing (fungal culture if necessary). But do not delay treatment while waiting for test results; take necessary measures immediately.

1. Hot compress

It dilates the blood vessels in the eyes, relieves congestion, promotes blood flow, enhances resistance and nutrition, and allows ulcers to recover quickly.

2. Rinse

If there is a lot of secretion, the conjunctival sac can be flushed 3 times or more a day with normal saline or 3% boric acid solution to flush out the secretion, necrotic tissue, bacteria and toxins produced by bacteria. In this way, not only the factors that spread the infection are reduced, but also the concentration of the local medicine is ensured not to decrease.

3. Mydriasis

Atropine is a commonly used drug with a concentration of 0.25-2% solution or ointment, which is dripped or applied 1-2 times a day (be sure to press the lacrimal sac after dripping the medicine to prevent the solution from being excessively absorbed by the mucous membrane and causing poisoning). It is not necessary for simple corneal ulcers or those with mild irritation symptoms, but it must be used for ulcers with significant irritation symptoms and those that are about to perforate. This medicine has a dual effect in treating corneal ulcers; consequences. Furthermore, since the intraocular muscle spasms are relieved, it also has a relieving and analgesic effect.

4. Antibacterial Agents

(1) Sulfonamide chemical preparations such as 10-30% sodium sulfacetamide and 4% sulfisoxazole eye drops.

(2) For Gram-positive coccal infections, topical application 4 to 6 times a day of 0.1% rifampicin eye drops, 0.5% erythromycin, or 0.5% bacitracin eye drops can control the disease. Some broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as 0.5% chloramphenicol, 0.25% chloramphenicol and 0.5% tetracycline, are more effective in antibacterial effects.

(3) For infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, you can choose 1-5% streptomycin, 0.3-0.5% gentamicin, polymyxin B (20,000 units/ml), 0.25-0.5% neomycin, 0.5% kanamycin, etc.

(4) For ulcers of a more serious condition where the results of bacterial culture and drug sensitivity tests are not yet known, multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics can be tried simultaneously at the beginning, alternating between dripping once every few minutes or quarter of an hour, and then decreasing in increments as appropriate. In addition, the drug can be administered by subconjunctival injection once a day for several consecutive days until the ulcer symptoms subside. Conjunctival necrosis sometimes occurs after subconjunctival injection of some drugs, which should be paid attention to.

(5) Antiviral drugs include 0.1% herpes net, etc. Antifungal preparations include nystatin (25,000 units/ml), 0.1% amphotericin B, 0.5% trichostatin and 0.5% pimaricin.

5. Bandaging and dressing

(1) In order to stop the eyeball from rotating and promote the early healing of the ulcer, it must be bandaged. This treatment is particularly suitable for winter. Because it not only prevents the eyeballs from getting cold, but also has a warming and protective effect.

(2) If there is secretion in the conjunctival sac, it should not be bandaged and can be replaced with a Buller eye patch or black glasses. Furthermore, if the ulcer is about to rupture or is about to bulge during the scarring stage, it should be applied with a compression bandage every day. If this is not possible during the day, it should be applied at night while sleeping to prevent adverse consequences.

How to treat keratitis? Some of the methods we introduce today are very good. At the same time, when treating keratitis, it is possible to find its cause and receive treatment. It is also very good. Patients should also pay attention to nutritional supplements and be able to supplement vitamin A in time. If it is not treated in time, keratitis will become more serious.