INFECTIONS OF THE CONJUNCTIVA AND CORNEA
Treatment of various Corneal and Conjunctival infections is carried out by the Cornea Specialist at Rushabh Eye Hospital. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva-the thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. It may be caused due to microbes, allergy, toxic chemicals, etc. Patients commonly refer to this as a “pink eye” or “red-eye”. The treatment of each is based on the underlying cause.
MICROBIAL KERATITIS (CORNEAL INFECTION)
Corneal infection also knows as “corneal ulcer” and can broadly be divided into infective and non-infective.
In corneal infections, the eye becomes very painful, red, sensitive to light, and may be associated with a drop in vision.
Infective keratitis can be caused by several pathogens, the most common being bacteria, fungi, viruses. They require a detailed examination, microbiological work-up to isolate the causative pathogen and accordingly target treatment for the same. Such cases require frequent follow-ups, frequent administration of drugs (drops or injections) to prevent the infection from spreading into deeper layers and penetrating other structures of the eye.
A therapeutic keratoplasty is a surgery in which the infected cornea is replaced with a healthy one when the infection is very severe and not responding to topical treatment or to reduce a load of infective pathogens in the eye when the infection has involved a large area of the cornea.
Non-infective keratitis may require a systemic evaluation to rule out an underlying causative factor. They may require systemic immunosuppressants based on the underlying etiology.