Corneal Disease Treatment in Imo State

Conditions affecting the cornea

• Corneal ulcer: an open sore, usually from infection. A true emergency.
• Keratitis: inflammation of the cornea, which may be bacterial, viral or fungal.
• Corneal abrasion: a scratch on the surface, often from a fingernail, farm work or a foreign body.
• Corneal scarring: permanent opacity following infection or injury.
• Keratoconus: progressive thinning that makes the cornea bulge into a cone shape, distorting vision.
• Dry eye: an inadequate or poor-quality tear film, causing surface damage and discomfort.
• Pterygium: a fleshy growth from the white of the eye onto the cornea, common in people who work outdoors.

Symptoms

• Eye pain, sometimes severe
• Redness
• Marked sensitivity to light
• Blurred or hazy vision
• A feeling that something is in the eye
• Watering or discharge
• A visible white or grey spot on the normally clear cornea
• Difficulty keeping the eye open

A painful red eye with light sensitivity should always be examined promptly.

A warning about traditional eye medicines

Applying traditional preparations, herbal mixtures, breast milk or unprescribed drops to an injured or infected eye is a frequent cause of severe corneal damage and blindness. So is using leftover steroid eye drops, which can turn a treatable infection into a sight-threatening one within days.

If something is wrong with an eye, come and have it examined. Do not put anything into it first.

How corneal disease is diagnosed

We examine the cornea under a slit lamp, which magnifies it greatly, often using a harmless dye that shows up any break in the surface. Where infection is suspected, we may take a sample from the ulcer to identify the organism, so the right treatment can be given rather than a guess.

Treatment

• Intensive antimicrobial drops for infection, often hourly at first, day and night. Following the schedule exactly is what saves the eye.
• Lubricants for dry eye and surface disease
• Removal of foreign bodies and treatment of abrasions
• Surgery for pterygium where it threatens vision or causes persistent irritation
• Specialised contact lenses or surgery for keratoconus
• Corneal transplantation for established scarring. Where indicated, our team will discuss referral and what is involved

Come early

Corneal infections move fast. A day can be the difference between a treated ulcer and a permanent scar. If you have a painful, red, light-sensitive eye, come to St Joseph’s Eye Hospital Mgbirichi without delay.