Infectious Keratitis: An Immediate Cause of Concern

Abstract

Cornea is a transparent structure present at the center of eye, which acts as a protective barrier against harmful objects and plays an important role in vision. Corneal disorders are major cause of concern as they have fatal ocular consequences. These disorders may be due to any degenerative disorders like keratoconus or have infectious origin or dystrophies due to hereditary causes. They can lead to visual impairment or sometimes vision loss, if not treated ontime. Visual disability of cornea due to infectious etiology is preventable if identified and treated earlier. Infective corneal ulcers or microbial keratitis is more common among all corneal diseases. Other corneal diseases due to infectious origin are herpes zoster ophthalmicus, peripheral ulcerative keratitis and phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis. There is availability of advance diagnostic techniques to identify these diseases in earlier stage, which can guide appropriate therapeutic options. There is a need of knowledge and awareness about these diseases for identification, proper management and prevention of ocular morbidity.