A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea (i.e. the clear coating over the colored area of your eye) caused by an infection. The three most common causes of corneal ulcers are bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. This blog will help you identify if you have some of the symptoms of a corneal ulcer and how to treat it.
Signs of a Corneal Ulcer Although anyone is susceptible to getting a corneal ulcer, those people who wear extended-wear contact lenses are ten times more likely to get a corneal ulcer than people who do not. If you wear contact lenses and have any of the following symptoms, you may have a corneal ulcer:
constant pain in the eye or feeling that something is in your eye
red eye
blurry vision
swollen eyelids
pus draining from your eye
Also, if you see a gray spot on your cornea then that is a sign that you have a large corneal ulcer.
Treatment If you suspect that you have a corneal ulcer, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately. Your doctor will complete a thorough eye exam, remove your contact lens, and if necessary, prescribe a medication to treat your ulcer. If your ulcer is severe then you may need surgery to remove the ulcer. If you are in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and suspect that you have a corneal ulcer, please contact Horizon Eye Care.
