Can erythromycin ointment be used for keratitis?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Keratitis can be treated with erythromycin eye ointment, but it should be used at night, not during the day. Keratitis involves inflammation of the cornea, and can be classified into bacterial keratitis, viral keratitis, fungal keratitis, corneal ulcers, and corneal perforation. If not treated promptly, it can severely affect vision. After the onset of keratitis, it is important to properly use eye drops and ointment for treatment. Regular rest and a light diet should be maintained. Avoid spicy and irritating foods, do not stay up late, use your eyes correctly, do not rub your eyes with dirty hands, have regular check-ups, and monitor your vision.

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Can chronic keratitis cause blindness?

Chronic bacterial conjunctivitis generally does not cause blindness. Its main clinical symptoms include itching, burning, dryness, eye pain, and visual fatigue. The conjunctiva is mildly congested and may be accompanied by thickening of the palpebral conjunctiva, papillary hypertrophy, and mucous secretions. Moraxella can cause canthal conjunctivitis, which is accompanied by crusting and ulceration of the skin at the outer canthus, and hypertrophy of the palpebral conjunctiva's papillae and follicles. Staphylococcus aureus infections are often accompanied by ulcerative blepharitis, or peripheral corneal punctate infiltration.

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Symptoms of neonatal keratitis

After a newborn develops keratitis, symptoms such as eye discomfort, tearing, increased tear secretion, and congestion may occur. If the cornea is infected due to disease or trauma, the inflammation of the cornea will inevitably affect the vision to varying degrees, especially if the inflammation invades the pupil area, which is more severe. After the ulcer heals, the resulting corneal scar not only obstructs the entry of light into the eye but also causes changes in the curvature and refractive index of the corneal surface, affecting vision. Generally, for newborns, the symptoms are caused by non-severe illnesses, so they are usually mild, mostly involving tearing or even secretion. In such cases, eye medications should be used early for treatment. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Ophthalmology
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The difference between conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Eye membrane inflammation generally refers to the whites of the eyes, which is conjunctivitis, while corneal inflammation refers to the black part of the eyes. Both conjunctivitis and corneal inflammation should be actively treated. The symptoms of conjunctivitis include red eyes, swelling, pain, tearing, photophobia, increased secretion, foreign body sensation, and burning sensation, generally not affecting vision. In addition to the above symptoms, corneal inflammation has more pronounced symptoms of corneal irritation, such as increased sensitivity to light and more severe tearing. If corneal inflammation is not actively treated, it may later lead to thinning of the cornea, spots, and opacities, severely affecting vision. If not treated properly, corneal ulcers can perforate, leading to complete loss of vision, or blindness.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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The difference between conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Conjunctivitis, also known as acute or subacute conjunctivitis, and keratitis are among the most common diseases of the ocular surface, but they are different. Firstly, the locations of the cornea and conjunctiva are different. The cornea is a transparent, avascular tissue through which light enters the eye, allowing people to see. The conjunctiva is divided into the bulbar conjunctiva and the palpebral conjunctiva. Inflammation occurring on the cornea is called keratitis, while inflammation on the conjunctiva is referred to as conjunctivitis. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include congestion, foreign body sensation, photophobia, and tearing, among others. The symptoms of keratitis include a significant foreign body sensation, distinct pain, often affecting vision, and accompanied by photophobia.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
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How long is the general recovery period for keratitis?

The recovery time for blurry vision caused by keratitis can vary, as keratitis can range from mild to severe. Mild cases may recover within 3-5 days, but severe cases, if complications like corneal nebula, macula, leukoma, corneal ulcers, or corneal perforation occur, may lead to difficult or impossible vision recovery, or even blindness. Therefore, it is important to take keratitis seriously in treatment. Active and diligent treatment should not be neglected. Normally, do not apply heat, maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, use eye drops and ointments as prescribed, attend regular check-ups, and monitor vision status.