Ophthalmic diseases are almost always difficult to tolerate and cause concern. After all, the eyes are one of the most important sensory organs. And their defeat can lead to loss of vision. Among all ophthalmic diseases, keratitis is very common - inflammation of the cornea. They can be caused by various reasons and without timely treatment lead to serious complications. Most often, viral keratitis occurs, which is caused by a viral infection. The disease mainly develops in children and adolescents, so it is very important to start treatment on time in order to preserve the child’s vision.
Types of keratitis
The cornea of ​​the eye is its transparent membrane. Visual acuity depends on its condition. Therefore, a decrease in its transparency due to the inflammatory process often leads to a deterioration in visual perception. This condition is provoked by keratitis - diseases that affect the cornea. Most often they have an infectious nature: they are caused by bacteria, viruses, chlamydia, fungi or parasites.
There is still traumatic keratitis, in which inflammation develops as a result of a violation of the integrity of the cornea. This can lead to mechanical damage, exposure to chemicals, high temperature. And the last form of keratitis is allergic. It occurs with seasonal hay fever, rhinitis, or as a complication of drug conjunctivitis.
Since the most common are lesions of the cornea of ​​an infectious nature, it is necessary to know the difference between viral keratitis and bacterial keratitis. You can distinguish them by external signs. The bacterial form is most often caused by cocci or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It appears mainly after injuries or in chronic blepharoconjunctivitis. Its characteristic feature is the formation of an ulcer filled with pus.
Keratitis can develop as a complication in patients with tuberculosis, syphilis, when wearing contact lenses it can cause a microorganism such as acantameba. Of non-infectious forms, keratitis caused by metabolic disorders, for example, with gout or diabetes, or developing as complications of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, is common.
Viral keratitis
A photo of the eyes affected by this disease shows that she has a rather severe course, and the risk of developing complications is high. This form of keratitis is caused by a viral infection. Most often, it occurs with a general infectious disease. It affects viral keratitis mainly in children and adolescents, as well as people with reduced immunity.
The virus enters the cornea of ​​the eye in the airborne or contact-household way. In young children, primary viral keratitis is most often diagnosed. It proceeds in an acute form. But the virus can be latent in the body and, under certain circumstances, is activated. In this case, the disease is called secondary keratitis. This form has a chronic course and is very difficult to treat.
There are several forms of viral keratitis: pinpoint, metaherpetic, treelike, vesicular, disk-shaped and others.
- The tree form is superficial keratitis. It is characterized by the appearance of small vesicles, which, after opening, leave patterns in the form of tree branches on the cornea.
- Metaherpetic keratitis is a severe lesion of the deep layers of the cornea. Deep infiltrates are formed, often affecting the vascular part of the eye.
- Disk keratitis causes severe edema. Then a rounded infiltrate develops. Sometimes with this form of the disease, there is clouding of the cornea and a decrease in visual acuity.
Common viral keratitis
The most common keratitis occurs, caused by a herpes infection. Herpes refers to filtering neurotropic viruses. Most often, it enters the human body as a child due to weak immunity. It is impossible to completely cure herpes, it periodically worsens under the influence of provoking factors. And one of the forms of its manifestation is viral keratitis.
There are a lot of herpes viruses, but some of them cause such diseases, keratitis often develops as a complication of them. In addition to herpes simplex, it is chicken pox and shingles.
There are several forms of this disease: primary keratitis occurs when a herpes virus is infected. Most often this happens in young children. The second form is post-primary keratitis, when the "sleeping" virus is activated under the influence of provoking factors. In addition, herpetic keratitis can be superficial when only the outer part of the cornea is affected, or deep when the virus enters all layers of the eye membrane.
In addition to herpes viruses, keratitis can be caused by adenovirus. It also develops with common childhood diseases such as flu, SARS, mumps, measles and rubella. Its most severe form is adenoviral epidemiological keratitis, which spreads by contact. A feature of all keratitis caused by adenoviruses is that they usually affect both eyes, proceed in an acute form, but disappear without a trace after recovery, without causing a decrease in visual acuity.
Reasons for the appearance
Viral keratitis of the eye develops most often against the background of general viral diseases, as well as in the absence of treatment of conjunctivitis. Corneal damage can occur as a complication of influenza, SARS, chickenpox, mumps, measles, rubella, or shingles. But in order for the virus not only to fall on the cornea, but also take root there, causing inflammation, certain provoking factors are needed. It can be:
- hypothermia;
- decreased immunity;
- frequent stressful situations;
- mechanical damage to the cornea;
- avitaminosis;
- metabolic disorders;
- dry eye syndrome;
- wearing contact lenses.
Viral keratitis: symptoms
The clinical manifestations of such lesions of the cornea are quite characteristic and are taken seriously by patients. Usually, viral keratitis affects one eye. All types of disease have approximately the same symptoms:
- the mucous membrane of the eye turns red;
- eyelids swell;
- the eye is sensitive to light and touch;
- pain is felt, the patient feels that a foreign body is in the eye;
- lacrimation and mucous discharge are observed;
- the cornea becomes cloudy;
- transparent bubbles appear on its surface, which after opening leave ulcers after themselves;
- visual acuity is reduced.
Diagnosis of the disease
When the first signs of corneal damage appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. An ophthalmologist can make a diagnosis based on external signs, but still additional examination methods are used. First of all, we study visual acuity and the boundaries of visible space. Keratometry and biomicroscopy are necessarily performed, the sensitivity of the cornea is determined. An informative fluorescein instillation test, which shows the boundaries of the affected area. In addition, blood tests are taken that are tested for antibodies to viruses, as well as PCR smear from the cornea.
Treatment of viral keratitis
If there are signs of corneal damage, you must contact a medical institution. Only a doctor can determine the symptoms of viral keratitis, and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Such diseases are treated in a hospital setting. Therapy should be comprehensive. Its main tasks are: the destruction of the virus, strengthening the patient's immunity and restoration of corneal tissue.
As antiviral therapy, "Acyclovir" inside, drops of "Interferon", oxolinic ointment or Zirgan gel are used. Gamma globulin injections may be used. To relieve local symptoms: edema, pain and inflammation, "Analgin", "Indomethacin", "Atropine" are prescribed. Mandatory use of vitamin preparations and biogenic stimulants.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are also effective: electrophoresis, diathermy, diadynamic currents. For ulcers, cryoapplication or laser coagulation is used.
With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment and with extensive lesion of the cornea, surgical treatment may be recommended. Scraping of the affected tissues is done, through keratoplasty, and in the most severe cases, corneal transplantation.
Prevention
If treatment of viral keratitis of the eye is not started on time, or the patient does not follow the doctor's recommendations, serious complications are possible. In addition to reducing visual acuity, it can be blindness, glaucoma, cataract, abscess. Therefore, everything must be done to prevent the development of the disease. To prevent keratitis, avoid eye injuries, protect them and do not touch with dirty hands. In addition, it is very important to treat all infectious diseases in time and strengthen the immune system.