Understanding Corneal Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

One of the causes of blindness is a corneal ulcer. Even if the ulcer heals with timely treatment, it can leave permanent scars. Without treatment, blindness becomes inevitable. Corneal ulcer, also known as ulcerative keratitis, is an inflammatory condition of the cornea (the clear tissue in front of the eye) that causes disruption of the epithelial layer lining the corneal stroma. It is the main cause of eye redness, eye pain, mild to severe eye discharge, and loss of vision.y

Causes of Corneal Ulcers

Canthamoeba keratitis: This is a rare eye disease. In this, the amoeba invades the cornea of the eye, resulting in loss of vision. This infection is more common in people who frequently wear contact lenses. To prevent the condition, contact lenses must be sterilized before wearing.

Herpes simplex keratitis: Herpes simplex keratitis is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus. This results in eye sores and, if untreated, eye ulcers.

Eye injuries: Eye injuries can result in abrasions or scratches to the cornea. They can also cause ulcers. Fingernail scratches, cuts, paper cuts, makeup brushes, etc., can become infected with bacteria and cause corneal ulcers.

Dry Eye Syndrome: This occurs when the eye is unable to maintain a healthy coating with its own water. In such cases, the eye is too dry to protect itself and can become a good breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

Vitamin A Deficiency: People who lack vitamin A in their diet have a higher risk of developing corneal ulcers.

Symptoms of Corneal Ulcers

Symptoms include itching, watery eyes, burning, redness, discharge, sensitivity to light, frequent swelling of the eyelids, white spots on the cornea, and blurred vision.

Treatment of Corneal Ulcer

The infectious organism should be diagnosed and treated accordingly. Some traditional doctors in the country started treating this disease by applying various harmful substances to the eyes, such as snail water, lime water, etc. The disease becomes more complicated by the spread of sores. However, it can be treated with homeopathy medicine. Again, don’t risk using steroid drops on your own. This disease can be completely eradicated by using medicines on time as per the doctor’s advice.

by Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Majed