Cornea, the transparent part of the outer eye cover on the front of the eye is, because of its position, the part of the occiput that is most susceptible to injury and infection.
After the onset of the ulcer on the cornea often occurs infection and vice versa. When an ulcer occurs first, then this is usually a consequence of a blow or scarring of the cornea with the foreign body; after that, the bacteria infect the ulcer. When an infection occurs first, the cause is often a virus – usually the same virus that causes herpes simplex around the mouth. (For this reason, never touch your eyes after touching mouth infected with herpes.) In almost all cases only one eye is affected.
Symptoms of corneal ulceration are disturbance or eye pain (because the cornea is well-supplied with sensory nerve), sclera becomes pink or red, and visual acuity weakens depending on the size of the ulcer. If it is a bacterial infection, you will sometimes see the ulcer as a whitish stain when you look closely at the mirror. Infection with herpes simplex virus creates an ulcer called herpes simplex keratitis, which is very difficult to observe with a naked eye.
Symptoms of bacterial infection are much more pronounced than the symptoms of viral infections.
Every year, about one in 1000 people suffer from corneal ulceration. Many of these people are working on metal grinding, and this business exhibits their eyes with small flying particles.
If the ulcer is not treated immediately, a scar may occur on the cornea and reduce vision if the center of the cornea is affected. Neglected ulcers can perforate the cornea, cause pain and loss of vision, and allow eyeball infection, which can end with loss of eye.
What to do?
Always wear protective goggles or masks when you brush, work with a hammer or perform a similar job to protect your eyes from flying particles. Since this is a great danger, contact your doctor as soon as possible if you think you have ulcer and corneal infection.
Ulcers caused by corneal injury and bacterial infections, usually followed by injury, are treated with antibiotics in the form of droplets, fats, tablets or eye-injections. For viral infections and ulcers antiviral drops and fat are given. Outspread ulcers often come back.
If the scars from ulceration drastically reduce the vision, you may need a cornea transplant – an operation by which the new cornea is transplanted to the eye. If the ulcer has perforated the cornea, an operation will be required to repair the opening.