Keratitis
Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea of the eye.
(That this term concerns the cornea of the eye is indicated by the prefix "kerat-" which refers to the cornea of the eye.)
As with many disorders of the eye and visual system, the affected eye(s) water and are itchy, sore, and often painful. Vision is adversely affected, generally blurred, and often painful.
Keratitis may result from bacterial, viral or fungal infections, or may be non-infective such as due to trauma or associated with an auto-immune disease.
Classification:
Since the cornea of the eye can become inflammed for various reasons, keratitis is a condition that exists many forms - some of which may be distinguished by nuances in the symptoms, others according to the aetiology (i.e. the cause of the inflammed cornea).
Specific types of keratitis include:
- Acanthamoeba keratitis
- Bacterial keratitis
- Disciform keratitis
- Epithelial keratitis
- Filamentary keratitis
- Fungal keratitis
- Marginal keratitis
- Rosacea keratitis
- Stromal necrotic keratitis
Treatment or management of keratitis depends on on the cause and severity in each individual case.
More about Ophthalmology:
This section includes short definitions
of many diseases, disorders, and conditions of the eyes and visual system.
For definitions of other terms in this category, choose from the list
to the left (but note that this is not a complete/exhaustive list).
Other related pages include
- A diagram of the eye
- Definitions and descriptions of the parts of the eye
- A concise description of the human retina
- Definitions of parts of the retina
- Clinical and surgical procedures re. eyes and human visual system
For further information see also our pages of books about ophthalmology.
The following books may also be of interest:
