Interstitial Keratitis Overview
Learn About Interstitial Keratitis
Interstitial keratitis is inflammation of the tissue of the cornea, the clear window on the front of the eye. This condition can lead to vision loss.
Keratitis interstitial; Cornea - keratitis
Interstitial keratitis is a serious condition in which blood vessels grow into the cornea. Such growth can cause loss of the normal clearness of the cornea. This condition is often caused by infections.
Syphilis is the most common cause of interstitial keratitis, but rare causes include:
- Autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoidosis
- Leprosy
- Lyme disease
- Tuberculosis
In the United States, most cases of syphilis are recognized and treated before this eye condition develops.
However, interstitial keratitis accounts for 10% of avoidable blindness in the least developed countries worldwide.
Symptoms may include:
- Eye pain
- Excessive tearing
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
The underlying disease must be treated. Treating the cornea with corticosteroid drops may minimize scarring and help keep the cornea clear.
Once the active inflammation has passed, the cornea may be left severely scarred and with abnormal blood vessels. The only way to restore vision at this stage is with a cornea transplant.
Partners Physician Group
Inderprit Singh is a Rheumatologist and an Allergy and Immunologist in Kent, Ohio. Dr. Singh and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Keratitis. His top areas of expertise are Sjogren Syndrome, Interstitial Keratitis, Necrotizing Vasculitis, and Dermatomyositis. Dr. Singh is currently accepting new patients.
Partners Physician Group
Nikita Hegde is a Rheumatologist in Akron, Ohio. Dr. Hegde and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Keratitis. Her top areas of expertise are Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), Psoriasis, and Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA). Dr. Hegde is currently accepting new patients.
Bart Brine is an Ophthalmologist in Salem, Ohio. Dr. Brine and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Interstitial Keratitis. His top areas of expertise are Cataract, Subconjunctival Hemorrhage, Sjogren Syndrome, and Ocular Hypertension (OHT). Dr. Brine is currently accepting new patients.
Diagnosing and treating interstitial keratitis and its cause early can preserve the clear cornea and good vision.
A corneal transplant is not as successful for interstitial keratitis as it is for most other corneal diseases. The presence of blood vessels in the diseased cornea brings white blood cells to the newly transplanted cornea and increases the risk of rejection.
People with interstitial keratitis need to be followed closely by an ophthalmologist and a medical specialist with knowledge of the underlying disease.
A person with the condition should be checked immediately if:
- Pain gets worse
- Redness increases
- Vision decreases
This is particularly crucial for people with corneal transplants.
Prevention consists of avoiding the infection that causes interstitial keratitis. If you do get infected, get prompt and thorough treatment and follow-up.
Summary: This is a single site, prospective, cross-sectional, controlled clinical study on a total of 66 subjects. The subjects are divided into two groups: Hypertonic Saline Non-Responders (33 subjects) and Hypertonic Saline Responders (33 subjects). After completion of questionnaires, the subjects will undergo Dry Eye Disease testing and functional nerve testing. Subjects who qualify will be dispensed 4 ...
Summary: This will be a non-interventional study with secondary use of data. The study will be a site-based retrospective review of medical chart of patients with AK who initiated and completed a treatment with 0.8 mg/ml polihexanide as part of a compassionate use program. Patientlevel data will be abstracted from medical chart of eligible patients at participating sites and imputed in an electronic case r...
Published Date: July 09, 2024
Published By: Audrey Tai, DO, MS, Athena Eye Care, Mission Viejo, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Gauthier A-S, Noureddine S, Delbosc B. Interstitial keratitis diagnosis and treatment. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2019;42(6):e229-e237. PMID: 31103357 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31103357/.
Starnes TW, Vasaiwala RA, Bouchard CS. Noninfectious keratitis. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 4.17.
World Health Organization website. Eye care, vision impairment and blindness. www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss#tab=tab_1. Accessed August 9, 2024.