Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea. This is a serious condition because damage to the cornea can cause blindness. Keratitis conjunctivitis is a condition of inflammation of the cornea and the conjunctiva. Two common types of keratitis conjunctivitis are viral keratitis conjunctivitis and bacterial keratitis conjunctivitis.

Viral keratitis conjunctivitis can be caused by the herpes simplex virus. This is sometimes called herpes simplex keratitis or herpes simplex conjunctivitis. This condition can cause inflammation of the cornea, loss of vision, glaucoma, and scarring of the cornea. Herpes simplex keratitis usually starts as conjunctivitis. The whites of the eyes may appear red as is common with conjunctivitis.

Herpes simplex conjunctivitis is most common in winter and early in the summer. Herpes simplex is the virus that causes cold sores, so people with cold sores or who get cold sores are at risk of herpes simplex conjunctivitis. Viral keratitis conjunctivitis usually occurs in only one eye.

Bacterial keratitis conjunctivitis is often causes by improper use of contact lenses. Wearing contact lenses overnight causes the person to have a ten to fifteen percent greater risk of bacterial keratitis than those who do not wear lenses overnight. This condition can also be causes by not cleaning contact lenses or by using contaminated makeup.

A common symptom of bacterial keratitis conjunctivitis is heavy discharge from the eyes in the morning which makes the eyelids stick together. People with bacterial keratitis conjunctivitis may experience sensitivity to light, pain, tearing, redness, and impaired vision. Bacterial keratitis can cause cloudiness of the cornea.

The physician may do tests to diagnose keratitis conjunctivitis. The doctor may take a sample of any discharge to be examined by the laboratory. A slit lamp may be used to examine the eye. A yellow dye may be applied to allow the doctor to see how the eye tissue and cornea have been affected by the infection.

A doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medication depending on the cause of the keratitis conjunctivitis. Medicated eye drops may be prescribed. People should avoid using topical cortisone cream on or near the eyes of someone with herpes simplex conjunctivitis. Using topical cortisone cream can cause blindness. The doctor may recommend the use of an eye patch to cover and protect the eye during treatment. The patient may need to return to the doctor’s office several times during treatment so that the doctor can monitor the progress. In severe cases, corneal implants may become necessary.