Causes and treatments of corneal ulcer

A corneal ulcer is one of the most common eye problems, which may be caused by a variety of reasons. Bacterial infections from eye injury and trauma are common causes of corneal ulcer symptoms such as red, painful eye, discharge and vision reduction. People wearing contact lenses are more probably to get eye irritation, from the lens’s rubbing the eye’s surface. Contact lenses wearers must take good hygiene.

Fungi and parasites are also commonly reported to cause corneal ulcers, such as Fusarium and Acanthamoeba. Fusarium is always associated with certain type of lenses solution that brings fungal keratitis outbreak and Acanthamoeba can be caused by swimming with contact lenses. Other reasons for corneal ulcers include herpes virus infection, dry eyes, eye allergies and immune system disorder.

An immediate visit to your doctor is necessary if you realize any sign of corneal ulcer. After you are diagnosed with certain type of cornea ulcer, you should visit your doctor every one to three days. The determination of ulcer type depends on its size and location. Ulcer on the central cornea is more bothersome that it may bring scarring and vision damage, even with proper treatment.

People with trauma experience are more likely to suffer from fungal keratitis caused ulcer, which may also contributed by an immune disorder. Fungal keratitis can be diagnosed with microscopic evaluation of specially stained specimens. Anti-fungal agents are always applied both topically and orally to treat this type of ulcer.