Corneal Ulcer

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on your cornea. It's often caused by an infection.

The cornea is your eye’s outermost layer. It is a clear layer that covers the front of the eye. It helps protect the rest of the eye from germs and debris. It also helps focus light into the eye. And it plays an important role in focusing your vision. Infections or injury to your cornea can cause an ulcer to form. A corneal ulcer is a medical emergency that needs treatment right away.

Corneal ulcers are not rare. They can happen in people of any age. Corneal ulcers may differ in severity based on their cause. In the U.S., contact lens use often plays a role. Vitamin A deficiency is a factor in many developing countries. Corneal infections and corneal ulcers are a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in these countries. In the U.S., such problems are much less common.

Many health conditions can cause a corneal ulcer. These include:

• Bacterial infections (such as Staphylococcus)
• Viral infections (such as herpes)
• Fungal infections
• Parasitic infections
• Scrapes (abrasions) or burns to the cornea
• Conditions that dry out the cornea, such as dry eye syndrome or Bell palsy
• Autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Injury to your cornea
• Ulcers from reduced blood flow (for example, from diabetes)
• Allergies causing allergic keratoconjunctivitis
• Vitamin A deficiency (rare in the U.S.) 

Using contact lenses increases your chance of an infection of your cornea. This can lead to a corneal ulcer.

If you use contact lenses, some things put you more at risk:

• Wearing soft contact lenses
• Wearing extended-wear contact lenses
• Wearing your lenses longer than advised
• Not cleaning your lenses and lens case as your eye care provider advises
• Exposing your contact lenses to water

Having a weak immune system due to another health condition may also raise your risk of getting a corneal ulcer.

If you have a corneal ulcer, you may have 1 or more of these symptoms:

• Severe eye pain
• The feeling that something is in your eye
• Tearing
• Eye discharge
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Eye redness
• Swollen eyelids
• A white spot on your cornea

It’s important to seek treatment right away if you have any of these symptoms. Most of them should go away once you have the corneal ulcer treated and it has healed. If untreated, a corneal ulcer can lead to vision loss and even blindness.

Your eye care provider will start with a health history, physical exam, and a full eye exam. This will include checking your vision in both eyes. Your provider will likely place a dye on your eye. This lets your provider more closely check your cornea. Your provider will likely need to use a device called an ophthalmoscope. This uses a light to look into the back of your eye. You also might need to look into a large microscope called a slit lamp. This lets your provider see your eye in more detail.

Often your eye care provider will scrape your cornea and send it for culture to find out if there is an infection. If you wear contact lenses, your provider may also send your contacts for culture. In some cases, your provider might also want to take blood tests to help find the cause of your corneal ulcer. Finding the cause of the ulcer is important because certain causes have different treatments. You may need to see an eye care provider who specializes in eye conditions (ophthalmologist) for your diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment will vary depending on the cause. Possible treatments include:

• Antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection of the cornea
• Antiviral medicines to treat a viral infection
• Antifungal medicines to treat a fungal infection
• Pain medicine
• In some cases, steroids

You may need to take some of these medicines in the form of eye drops. Your eye care provider may also give you specific instructions about protecting your eye as it heals. For example, you may need special eye drops or contact lenses while your eye heals. (Don't wear your normal contacts unless your provider says it is OK.)

Your eye care provider may also want to treat any other hidden diseases that are causing your ulcer. This can help prevent new ulcers from developing. Examples of other conditions that might need treatment include dry eye, vitamin deficiency, and autoimmune disease.

Complications from a corneal ulcer might need more treatment.

If your cornea has lasting (permanent) scarring and damage, your vision can be impaired in the long term. If not treated right away, corneal ulcers can lead to permanent scarring. If your complications are serious, you may need more treatment. Possible treatments include:

• A special type of contact lens
• Eye surgery with a laser (phototherapeutic keratectomy)
• Transplant of a new cornea

Treating the corneal ulcer right away reduces the chances that you will need these sorts of treatments.

Not all types of corneal ulcer can be prevented. Wear protective eyewear when doing any activity that might lead to eye injury. If you use contacts, be sure they fit well and that you care for them correctly. If you have problems with your eyes, get medical care as soon as possible. Treating your other health conditions quickly may also help prevent ulcers. Contacting your eye care provider at the first sign of infection may also help.

If you wear contact lenses, caring for them correctly can help reduce your chances of corneal infection and corneal ulcer:

• Don't wear your contacts longer than recommended.
• Clean your contact lenses exactly as your eye care provider advises.
• Never re-use lens solution or use homemade lens solution.
• Clean, rinse, and air-dry your lens case every time you remove your lenses.
• Don't expose your contact lenses to any water.

Call 911 if you have any symptoms of a corneal ulcer. These include severe eye pain, blurred vision, or eye discharge. You will need to see an ophthalmologist that same day.

• A corneal ulcer is an open sore on your cornea. This is the eye's outermost layer.
• Infection, injury, and other health conditions can lead to corneal ulcers.
• You might need antibiotics, antiviral medicine, or other treatments.
• To help prevent corneal ulcers, follow your eye care provider’s instructions about contact lens care and wear.
• Get treatment right away if you have severe eye pain or other symptoms.
• If you have serious damage to your cornea, you may need follow-up treatments such as a corneal transplant.

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.