Corneal ulcer

H16.0

• Description
• General measures
• Medicine treatment
• Referral

DESCRIPTION

Corneal ulcers may be caused by an infection, a foreign body in the eye, abrasions on the eye surface, severely dry eye or wearing contact lenses that are left in overnight.

Presents with:

• Blurring of vision.
• Photophobia.
• Very painful and watery eye.
• White patch/es on the cornea.
• Inflamed conjunctiva.

Herpes virus causes a branching (dendritic) ulcer which can recur and relapse over the lifetime of an individual.

GENERAL MEASURES

• Establish the cause, to determine likelihood of a foreign body.
• Remove any foreign body if visible on sclera or conjunctivae with cotton bud.
• Stain with fluorescein to reveal corneal foreign body or conditions such as abrasion or dendritic ulcer.
• Cover injured eye with eye pad, provided there is no pressure on the eye.

MEDICINE TREATMENT

If referral is deferred and a culture cannot be done within 12 hours:

• Chloramphenicol 1%, ophthalmic ointment applied 6 hourly.

LoEIII [3]

REFERRAL

Urgent within 12 hours

All patients.