Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye). Causes of keratitis include injuries, infections and diseases of the cornea, and wearing contact lenses too long. Keratitis can range from mild and temporary to severe and capable of causing permanent vision loss.

How to pronounce keratitis: “kair-uh-TIE-tis.”

Risk factors and causes

Among those who are at risk of developing keratitis are:

• Wearers of contact lenses

• Users of steroid eye drops

• Sufferers of cold sores, chickenpox or shingles (or those who’ve had it in the past)

• Sufferers of dry eye syndrome

• Sufferers of eyelid disorders

• People who have injured their cornea

• People with reduced immunity

Causes of keratitis include:

Keratitis symptoms

Symptoms of keratitis include:

If you experience any of these symptoms and suspect you have keratitis, make an appointment right away with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. During the appointment, your doctor will review your medical history, perform an eye exam, and possibly take a sample of your tears or corneal cells for lab analysis.