Especially when it comes to our eyes, those things that help us navigate our world, see our friends, and enjoy works of art, we are always very careful not to take any unnecessary risks. That means that when we touch our eyes, whether it’s to put in contacts or just to remove a pesky eyelash, you know we’re washing our hands thoroughly beforehand. Frustratingly, Keratitis is a serious issue that can stem from many issues like illness, injury, or bacterial contamination. Keep reading to learn about Keratitis and how you can best avoid it.
What is Keratitis?
Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea of the eye which, for those of you who don’t remember, is the clear part of your eye that protects the iris and pupil. It occurs when illness (herpes or chlamydia), injury, or bacteria compromises the eye. Keratitis can sometimes resolve itself on its own, especially in cases of injury, but other times it can cause serious harm if left untreated. Some severe cases have left people blind or with permanently damaged eyes.
It can also occur when contacts are not properly disinfected between wear, or if you sleep in your contacts. Making sure to rub your contacts clean every night and changing out the solution they soak in can cut down on your risk of Keratitis.
How can you identify Keratitis?
Keratitis is an issue you are unlikely to be able to ignore. If you find your eye suddenly red, sensitive to light, in pain, and even difficult to open because of pain then you likely have Keratitis. Blurred vision can also occur so if your contacts or glasses suddenly don’t give you the clear vision you had, you may have Keratitis.
Keratitis treatment requires that you forgo wearing contacts, so your eyes can breathe and heal. For many of us, wearing glasses is not ideal, either because our prescription is too high and we get “tunnel vision,” or because our glasses serve as a backup and only have an older prescription.
Schedule a Consultation
Avoid the extra risk of Keratitis with LASIK! Call us today at (904) 355-5555 to schedule a consultation and ditch those dirty contacts.