Bacterial keratitis: causes and consequences

In the first article in this series, we considered Acanthamoeba keratitis (Optician 05.05.17). In this second discussion of keratitis, the focus will be upon bacteria.

Bacteria are often associated with infection and it is not uncommon to have an ailment and to think immediately of the need for antibiotics (compounds that ‘kill’ bacteria). This concept has become so engrained in society that often the deeper understanding of bacterial infection is overlooked. Bacterial keratitis is a potentially serious corneal infection that can cause visual impairment if not treated. It is a significant global health problem and is often associated with contaminated contact lens wear in developed countries and agricultural work with exposure to organic matter in developing nations.

This article offers a broad overview, discussing what bacterial keratitis is, what bacteria cause it, what are the symptoms, and what can be done to diagnose and treat bacterial keratitis and prevent it completely.