Infecions of the Eye Lid

Styes
An inflammation of a gland at the base of an eyelash. Painful but disappears after a few days with out treatment. The use of warm compression and the use of anti-infective drops and ointment may be prescribed to prevent the infection.

Blepharitis
he generalized inflammation of the eyelid margins, with redness, itching and discharge. It tends to be persistent and mat cause the eyelashes to fall out or to turn inward so they irritate the cornea. Blepharitis is probably the single most common cause of all eye discomfort. Blepharitis is of two types, seborrheic blepharitis and ulcerative blepharitis. An anti-infective is required to eliminate the eye infection and, if necessary, a topical steroid.

Microbial Keratitis/ Corneal Ulcer
Inflammation of the cornea due to microorganisms. The term keratitis and corneal ulcer are often used interchangeably. It is usually regarded as more serious than conjunctivitis because scarring of the cornea and cause blurring of vision.

Pre disposing factors:
1. Contact lens wear
2. Ocular surface disease (dry eye)
3. Corneal-anaesthesia
4. Bullous keratopathy
5. Trauma.

Corneal infection can spread through the deeper layers of the cornea. A superficial keratitis can cause loss of sight if it occurs in the field of vision, and a deeper keratitis can result in blindness or loss of the eye within 24 hours of infection if an aggressive microorganism is involved.

Patient with corneal ulcer suffer pain, blurry vision, inability to see bright light, redness, discharge and foreign body sensation in the eye.

Treatment for keratitis/ corneal ulcer is usually quite aggressive. Dosing of the prescribed antibiotic is frequent, sometimes every hour or more, especially for the first couple of the days. Serious patients require hospitalization, and they are always followed very closely.

Treatment can last for as long as several weeks. Treatments used by the ophthalmologists are as per the severity of the infection. Latest advancement for treating microbial keratitis/ corneal ulcer are fluoroquinolones.