Corneal ulcer

Corneal ulcer, also called keratitis, is an inflammatory or, more seriously, infective condition of the cornea involving disruption of its epithelial layer with involvement of the corneal stroma. It is a common condition in humans particularly in the tropics and in farming. In developing countries, children afflicted by vitamin A deficiency are at high risk for corneal ulcer and may become blind in both eyes persisting throughout life. In ophthalmology, a corneal ulcer usually refers to having an infection, while the term corneal abrasion refers more to a scratch injury. Corneal ulcers are a common human eye disease. They are caused by trauma, particularly with vegetable matter, as well as chemical injury, contact lenses and infections. Other eye conditions can cause corneal ulcers, such as entropion, distichiasis, corneal dystrophy, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye). Many micro-organisms cause infective corneal ulcer. Among them are bacteria (including Chlamydia trachomatis), fungi, viruses, and protozoa: Bacterial keratitis is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Pseudomonas, Nocardia, N. gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis as well as many other bacteria. Fungal keratitis causes deep and severe corneal ulcer. It is caused by Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Candida sp., as also Rhizopus, Mucor, and other fungi. The typical feature of fungal keratitis is slow onset and gradual progression, where signs are much more than the symptoms. Small satellite lesions around the ulcer are a common feature of fungal keratitis and hypopyon is usually seen. Viral keratitis causes corneal ulceration. It is caused most commonly by herpes simplex, herpes zoster and adenoviruses. It can also be caused by coronaviruses and many other viruses. Herpes virus cause a dendritic ulcer, which can recur and relapse over the lifetime of an individual. Protozoa infection like Acanthamoeba keratitis is characterized by severe pain and is associated with contact lens users swimming in pools.

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Recurrent corneal erosion

Recurrent corneal erosion is a disorder of the eyes characterized by the failure of the cornea's outermost layer of epithelial cells to attach to the underlying basement membrane (Bowman's layer). The condition is excruciatingly painful because the loss of these cells results in the exposure of sensitive corneal nerves. This condition can often leave patients with temporary blindness due to extreme light sensitivity (photophobia). Symptoms include recurring attacks of severe acute ocular pain, foreign-body sensation, photophobia (i.

Corneal abrasion

Corneal abrasion is a scratch to the surface of the cornea of the eye. Symptoms include pain, redness, light sensitivity, and a feeling like a foreign body is in the eye. Most people recover completely within three days. Most cases are due to minor trauma to the eye such as that which can occur with contact lens use or from fingernails. About 25% of cases occur at work. Diagnosis is often by slit lamp examination after fluorescein dye has been applied.

Herpes simplex keratitis

Herpetic simplex keratitis is a form of keratitis caused by recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the cornea. It begins with infection of epithelial cells on the surface of the eye and retrograde infection of nerves serving the cornea. Primary infection typically presents as swelling of the conjunctiva and eyelids (blepharoconjunctivitis), accompanied by small white itchy lesions on the corneal surface. The effect of the lesions varies, from minor damage to the epithelium (superficial punctate keratitis), to more serious consequences such as the formation of dendritic ulcers.

In situ detection of multitarget impurities on contact lens by electrochemical scanning probe

Fang Liu, Tzu-En Lin, Yingdi Zhu

Identifying multitarget impurities on contact lenses is challenging because traditional methods such as polymerase chain reaction cannot be used on the unknown target. Other sampling methods often require expensive antibodies or dyes. Therefore, this resea ...

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA2023

Corneal epithelial stem cells and their niche at a glance

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The corneal epitheliumacts as a protective barrier on the anterior ocular surface and is essential for maintaining transparency of the cornea and thus visual acuity. During both homeostasis and repair, the corneal epithelium is maintained by self-renewing ...

Company Of Biologists Ltd2017

Chronic inflammation imposes aberrant cell fate in regenerating epithelia through mechanotransduction

Freddy Radtke, Matthias Lütolf, Georg Fantner, Yann Barrandon, Sylke Höhnel, Pascal Damian Odermatt, Craig Nowell, Luca Azzolin

Chronic inflammation is associated with a variety of pathological conditions in epithelial tissues, including cancer, metaplasia and aberrant wound healing. In relation to this, a significant body of evidence suggests that aberration of epithelial stem and ...

Nature Publishing Group2016

Health Effects of Artificial Light: Fluorescence Guided Surgery CH-448: Photomedicine

Explores the health effects of artificial light on living organisms and the principles of fluorescence guided surgery, along with the mechanisms and history of bright light therapy for psychiatric disorders.