🎧Deep Dive: Keratitis— Don’t Miss the Red, Painful Eye

Let’sget laser-focused 🔬. If you’re revising for the MSRA or just want to truly understand whatkeratitis is (and why it's urgent), this is your express pass to mastering theessentials.

👁️What is Keratitis?

It’sinflammation of the cornea — the clear, front part of your eye. And when it’sinfectious, it’s a genuine sight-threatening emergency ⚠️.Unlike conjunctivitis, this one can scar or even perforate the eye if not treated fast.

🧫Causes:

Splitinto infectious vsnon-infectious ⬇️

🦠Infectious

• Bacterial: Staphaureus, Pseudomonas (esp. incontact lens wearers)

• Viral: Herpes simplex

• Fungal: Fusarium,Aspergillus

• Parasitic: Acanthamoeba(linked to tap water + contact lenses)

🌬️Non-infectious

• Photokeratitis (UVexposure – skiing, welding)

• Exposure keratitis(eyelids don’t close)

• CLARE (ContactLens Acute Red Eye – sterile)

• Dry eye, trauma,autoimmune inflammation

⚠️Major Risk Factors

👁️ Wearing contact lenses — especially poor hygiene,sleeping in them, or water exposure

🧼 Dirty hands, old lenses, tap water rinsing

💥 Eye trauma

🧬 Immunosuppression

💧 Dry eyes

💼 High-risk jobs (e.g. welders, lab workers)

💡Mnemonic:

“Painful Red Eye? Think 4PAD.”

4PAD = Foreignbody sensation, Pain, Redness, Photophobia, Discharge

🔍Diagnosis

🔎Slit lamp exam — look for opacity, infiltrates, ulcer

🧪Corneal scraping +culture — for bacteria, fungi

🧬PCR — useful for viruses, Acanthamoeba

🧫Fluorescein staining — to reveal ulcers

📷OCT or confocal microscopy— advanced cases

💊Management

🎯 Depends on the cause:

🦠Infectious

• Topicalantibiotics (e.g. fluoroquinolones)

• Antivirals (e.g.acyclovir for HSV)

• Antifungals (e.g.natamycin)

• Oral or IV medsfor severe cases

🧘Non-infectious

• Lubricating drops

• Topical steroids(specialist use only)

• Treat underlyingcause (dry eye, autoimmune)

🆘Key Rule for MSRA:

If a contact lens wearer presents with a painful red eye — assume microbial keratitis until proven otherwise.

🛑 Stop lens use

💉 Start broad-spectrum antibiotic drops

📞 Urgent same-day ophthalmology referral

💡Mnemonic:

“Red, Painful, No Contacts Now” = Stop lenses,Treat immediately, Refer fast.

📉Complications

❌ Corneal scarring (→ permanent vision loss)

❌ Corneal perforation

❌ Secondary endophthalmitis

❌ May need corneal transplant if severe

💡 Prognosis: GOOD if treated early. BAD if delayed.

🧠Summary Recap

• Keratitis =corneal inflammation (infectious or not)

• Risk ↑ withcontact lenses, trauma, poor hygiene

• Red, painful,photophobic eye = RED FLAG

• Treat underlyingcause

• Urgent referral ifinfection suspected

🧠 Ready to reinforce your learning?

📚 Keratitis Revision Notes:

https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/keratitis-revision-notes/

🃏 Flashcards:

https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/keratitis-flashcards/

📂 Accordion Q&A Notes:

https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/keratitis-accordion-qa-notes/

🧪 Rapid Quiz:

https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/keratitis-rapid-quiz/

🎯 Practice Questions:

https://www.passthemsra.com/quizzes/keratitis/

🌐 For full revision support:

https://www.passthemsra.com

🎁 Free learning tools:

https://www.freemrsra.com

Thanksfor tuning into this DeepDive on Keratitis — because visionmatters, and knowledge saves sight. See you in the next one! 🎙️👁️

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