What is Keratitis?

Fungal keratitis is a serious and painful eye disease that is caused by fungal infection. Under the best circumstances, the disease requires prolonged and expensive treatment; whereas under the worst circumstances, it can result in blindness.

Symptoms

Dull eye, greying of cornea, swelling, phobia of sunlight, closed eyelids, conjunctiva is enflamed possibly with ulcers.

Treatment

The three major goals for treating fungal keratitis are to iradicate the fungal infection, to prevent secondary bacterial infection, and to eradicate the pain. Fungal infection, however, is very difficult to treat for several reasons. Few topical antifungal drugs have good corneal penetration as many are irritating, and some are expensive.

Medical treatment can be effective, provided that suitable drugs are administered appropriately. Medical therapy alone may be adequate but usually involves prolonged treatment of 4 to 8 weeks. Combinations of surgical and medical treatment usually reduce the duration of therapy, although surgical treatment can produce more scaring. Surgery is often chosen because of the shorter recovery time and potential better prognosis.