How Your Ophthalmologist Can Help with Corneal Ulcers
A corneal ulcer is a serious eye condition that can lead to vision loss if not treated promptly. Also called ulcerative keratitis, the painful open sores can be caused by eye injuries and infections or underlying health conditions. Corneal ulcers can't be treated at home and require immediate treatment by your ophthalmologist.
What Is a Corneal Ulcer?
The clear, dome-shaped cornea covers your iris and pupil and helps focus light on the light-sensitive retina inside the eye. Corneal ulcers form in the outer layers of the cornea and happen when viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites enter the cornea.
Although serious eye injuries can lead to infections, injuries don't have to be severe to result in a corneal ulcer. Any opening that provides a pathway for germs, even tiny scratches or scrapes, can lead to an ulcer.
Corneal ulcers are more likely to form if the cornea lacks moisture due to dry eye or a condition that doesn't allow the eyelid to close completely. For example, people who have Bell's Palsy may be unable to close their eyes, or an eyelid injury may make it difficult to close the eye completely.
You may be more likely to develop a corneal ulcer due to:
- Viral Infections. The shingles and herpes viruses are two viruses often responsible for corneal ulcers.
- Bacterial Infections. A corneal ulcers could form due to a bacterial infection, such as bacterial keratitis. The infection is particularly common in people who wear contact lenses. If you don't wash your hands before touching your lenses, don't clean lens cases daily, or wear contact lenses overnight or longer than recommended, you are at an increased risk for bacterial infection. According to the Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, bacterial keratitis affects 25,000 to 30,000 Americans every day. The Department notes that 24% of those who develop bacterial keratitis will experience complications that affect their vision.
- Fungal and Parasitic Infections. Fungi and parasites sometimes cause corneal infections. If you wear contact lenses and swim or shower in your contacts or clean your lenses with tap water or contaminated solution, you may be at increased risk for developing a rare eye infection caused by the Acanthamoeba parasite.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that people who have had chicken pox, shingles, or cold sores, or use steroid eye drops, may be more likely to develop corneal ulcers.
What Are the Symptoms of Corneal Ulcers?
Corneal ulcers can cause:
- Severe Eye Pain
- Blurred Vision
- Red Eyes
- Watery Eyes
- Discharge
- Eyelid Swelling
- Light Sensitivity
- Foreign Body Sensitivity (a feeling that something is stuck in your eye)
- A White Mark on the Cornea
How Do Ophthalmologists Treat Corneal Ulcers?
Corneal ulcers must be treated promptly to prevent scarring that can interfere with vision. After identifying the cause of your ulcer, your ophthalmologist may prescribe antibiotic, antifungal, anti-amoebic, or antiviral eye drops. In some cases, oral antibiotic or antifungal medication may be needed.
Oral pain medication, like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, can help keep pain under control. Prescription eye drops that dilate the eye might also be used for pain management. Anti-inflammatory eye drops may be prescribed to decrease swelling and reduce the risk of scarring.
Your ophthalmologist may recommend a corneal transplant if severe scarring interferes with vision. During the transplant, your cornea is removed and replaced with a healthy donor cornea.
Don't put yourself at risk for a corneal ulcer. Call our office immediately if you notice any of the symptoms of corneal ulcers.
Sources:
Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology: Managing Bacterial Keratitis
https://eye.hms.harvard.edu/eye-witness/5/bacterial-keratitis
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is a Corneal Ulcer (Keratitis)?, 1/14/2025
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/corneal-ulcer
NCBI: Stat Pearls: Corneal Ulcer, 2/12/2024
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539689/
Merck Manual: Corneal Ulcer, 7/2024
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/eye-disorders/corneal-disorders/corneal-ulcer
