Can you smoke during keratitis?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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During the period of keratitis, it is best not to smoke. Although smoking does not directly affect the factors of corneal healing, it can indirectly affect the healing of keratitis. If keratitis is not actively treated, or if the condition progresses or is not well controlled, it can easily lead to corneal opacity, spots, and leukoplakia. Additionally, it can lead to the formation of corneal ulcers and corneal perforation, causing severe visual impairment and even leading to blindness. Therefore, keratitis can be either mild or severe, and it should not be ignored in treatment. Active treatment and regular check-ups generally lead to recovery.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Is it normal for keratitis to occur every year?

Keratitis is a common ophthalmic disease, occurring as an infection in the black eyeball area of the eye. Recurrent viral keratitis is a normal phenomenon, as the virus can remain dormant within the corneal nerve fibers even after recovery. Triggers such as fatigue, colds, or weakened immunity can cause the virus to replicate again, leading to a recurrence of keratitis. Symptoms include eye congestion, redness, stinging, foreign body sensation, photophobia, tearing, and decreased vision. Doctors use a slit-lamp microscope to observe the cornea, where dendritic or map-like lesions can be seen. Treatment involves using antiviral eye drops to alleviate symptoms, such as acyclovir eye drops, ganciclovir eye drops, and interferon eye drops. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Can recurrent keratitis be cured?

Recurrent episodes of keratitis are incurable. If keratitis is caused by a viral infection, it usually leads to symptoms such as red eyes, eye pain, photophobia, and tearing. After the inflammation subsides with antiviral medication treatment, the virus will hide within the nerve fibers of the corneal tissue. When the body's immune system is weakened, during a cold, or when fatigued, the virus can replicate again, causing a recurrence of keratitis. Therefore, to reduce recurrent episodes of keratitis, patients should focus on regular physical exercise to strengthen their constitution, maintain sufficient sleep, and avoid catching colds. These actions can enhance the body's immunity, effectively reducing the frequency of keratitis attacks, and thus protect eye health.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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How to treat baby keratitis?

Firstly, keratitis can be considered to be caused by bacterial or viral infections, with bacterial keratitis being more common. In such cases, we can first use saline or warm boiled water to rinse the cornea clean, and then apply eye drops, specifically antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ones, such as Tobramycin Eye Drops. Apply three to four drops, three to four times a day, and continue for three to five days. The symptoms of keratitis will then alleviate.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
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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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.