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corneal ulcer (ulcerative keratitis)

Etiology: - keratitis (see keratitis) - bacterial infection - herpes simplex - contact lens - trauma Clinical manifestations: - purulent discharge - eye pain - visual impairment - red eye - corneal opacities - hypopyon * image of Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal ulcer [5] Special laboratory: - ulcer can be seen with fluorescein dye Complications: - corneal ulcers can erode through the corneal stroma, exposing Descemet's membrane (descemetocele) & cause corneal perforation & permanent visual loss [3] Management: - immediate referral to ophthalmology (see keratitis) - antibiotic therapy - corneal scraping Comparative biology: - see ref [4] for corneal ulcer in animals - see Patient information for home management of corneal ulcer in dogs

Related

cornea (C, K)

General

corneal disease (keratopathy) ulcer

References

  1. Geriatric Review Syllabus, 7th edition Parada JT et al (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2010
  2. eMedicine http://www.emedicinehealth.com/corneal_ulcer/article_em.htm
  3. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 16, 18. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2012, 2018.
  4. Wikipedia: Corneal ulcers in animals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corneal_ulcers_in_animals
  5. Morelli MK, Kloosterboer A, Omar AF Pseudomonas aeruginosa Corneal Ulcer Associated With Artificial Tears Eye Drops. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2023;141(5):496 PMID: 36947092 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2802949
  6. NEJM Knowledge+ Ophthalmology