Keratoconjunctivitis, the treatment of which will be discussed in this article, is a serious inflammatory disease that affects the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye. The disease is common, because the conjunctiva has a very high reactivity - it instantly reacts to external stimuli and factors of influence.
Why does this disease occur? What are the symptoms? How to treat it? It is worth trying to answer these and many other questions now.
Reasons
Before proceeding to consider the principles of treatment of keratoconjunctivitis, it is necessary to talk about the reasons why it occurs.
They are varied. Inflammation can be caused by the activity of parasitic infections, fungi, viruses and bacteria. Sometimes this condition should be taken as a symptom of an allergy.
Keratoconjunctivitis often develops due to long-term usecorticosteroids or vitamins. Its appearance can also provoke the impact of a foreign body on the cornea or conjunctiva.
Also common is wearing contact lenses incorrectly or not cleaning them properly.
It is important to note that keratoconjunctivitis can act as a symptom of another disease. As a rule, these are rubella, influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome.
Provoking factors include lice, poor hygiene, helminthiasis and food allergies.
Types of diseases
In total, 10 types of this disease are distinguished:
- Herpetic. The cause of inflammation is the herpes virus. Symptoms are similar to signs of acute diffuse conjunctivitis or herpetic keratitis.
- Hydrogen sulfide. specific form. The reason for the occurrence is the long-term effect of hydrogen sulfide on the eyes.
- Tuberculosis-allergic. It is fraught with the appearance of conflicts in the eyes. Appears due to the activity of tuberculosis bacteria.
- Epidemic. There is a consequence of getting into the cornea or conjunctival sac of microorganisms of pathogenic origin. This form is contagious.
- Adenoviral. Treatment of this type of keratoconjunctivitis should be started as early as possible. After all, the disease occurs due to the activity of adenovirus. And he's contagious too.
- Dry. This type of disease is characterized by the formation of threads from degenerated epithelial cells. They arecan reach a length of 5 mm, and hang freely from the cornea. The cause of the disease is its drying and hypofunction of the lacrimal glands.
- Chlamydia. Inflammation of this type occurs due to the presence in the body of a large number of chlamydia. May be a sign that indicates the presence of a genitourinary disease.
- Atopic. This is a chronic disease that worsens during the cold season. It is characterized by whitish plaques on the surface of the eyeball.
- Spring. This is a chronic disease. The aggravation, as the name implies, occurs in the spring. Sometimes - in the fall. Also characterized by the presence of whitish plaques.
- Tygeson's keratoconjunctivitis. It occurs as a result of an allergy or a virus. It is characterized by chiselled infection, almost imperceptible at the initial stage.
Symptomatics
General signs that can be used to judge the presence of keratoconjunctivitis, the treatment of which will be discussed later, include:
- Burning.
- Itching.
- Loose structure of the conjunctiva and its redness.
- Profuse lacrimation.
- Puffiness.
- Redness of the cornea.
- Photophobia.
- Discharge of mucopurulent nature.
- Hemorrhages in the conjunctiva.
- Persistent feeling of having a foreign body in the eye.
In rare cases, various elements of pathological origin (papillae, follicles) are formed. Initially, inflammation is localized only in the conjunctiva, and after 5-15 daysextends to the cornea.
Other signs
In the event that the disease has arisen due to the presence of chlamydia in the body, subepithelial peripheral infiltrates will also be added to the symptoms. These are accumulations of lymph and blood.
If a person is sick with an epidemic form of the disease, then he will still have noticeable clouding of the cornea, resembling coins in appearance.
In the case of an atopic and spring type of illness, whitish plaques will appear along the limbus. An allergic disease causes severe tearing and burning. But with dry inflammation, filamentous keratitis is almost always observed and, as a rule, dry eye syndrome.
Dry keratoconjunctivitis
The treatment of this disease is based on the use of drugs that can replace tears. Viscous analogues should be chosen, which cover the ocular surface much longer.
In some cases, doctors prescribe an ointment. It must be applied before bed. When using the ointment, it will be possible to avoid irritation in the morning, after waking up. You can also use eye lubricants.
It is also important to normalize the environment. A person should not be in a room with dry air, as well as where it is smoky or smoky.
Your doctor may also prescribe topical cyclosporine or occlusion of the nasolacrimal puncta. Warm compresses and antibiotic ointments such as Doxycycline and Bacitracin help.
Tuberculosis-allergic keratoconjunctivitis
How the therapy worksof this disease, it is also important to tell. Treatment for adult keratoconjunctivitis of this type is desensitizing, restorative, antibacterial.
Mydriatic agents for topical use, PAS in drops, as well as streptomycin and cortisone help well. Often, the doctor prescribes the intake of a 10% solution of calcium chloride inside. It should be taken after meals, 1 tablespoon three times a day.
It is also useful to use fish oil and multivitamins. PAS is combined with ftivazid and streptomycin.
Treatment is carried out only in conjunction with a phthisiatrician.
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
In the case of a disease of this form, therapy is very problematic. Talking about the symptoms and treatment of this type of keratoconjunctivitis, it should be noted that there are still no drugs that have a selective effect on adenoviruses. This is why therapy is difficult.
As a rule, broad-spectrum medicines are used. These are interferons (ophthalmoferon and lokferon) and its inducers, installations 6-8 times a day. If the stage is acute, then you additionally need to drink antihistamines and take anti-allergic drops, for example, Spersallerg or Allergoftal.
In subacute form apply drops "Lekrolin" and "Alomid". If films have formed, you will need to take corticosteroids - Maxidex, Dexapos and Oftan-Dexamethasone. With damage to the cornea, Coperegel, Vitasik, Korpozin, Taufon helps.
Viralkeratoconjunctivitis
It is impossible to ignore the disease of this form. Treatment of viral keratoconjunctivitis is aimed at eliminating the cause for which it arose. So the doctor prescribes antibiotics and broad-spectrum drops. Only these drugs can affect a large number of bacteria known to science.
If a patient is diagnosed with a severe disease that is still progressing, parenteral antibiotics are prescribed.
In parallel, you need to use drugs that can protect the normal microflora of the intestines and other organs. Because with such treatment, against the background of the changes taking place in it, the risk of developing fungal diseases and dysbacteriosis begins to grow.
As a rule, the elimination of symptoms and treatment of keratoconjunctivitis in adults is carried out with drops of "Tobrex" and "Sofradex". Also used "Acyclovir". This drug prevents the infection from becoming chronic.
Spring keratoconjunctivitis
As a rule, this disease occurs among boys 4-10 years old. Treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis primarily involves minimizing the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the eyes. Therefore, it is highly recommended to wear sunglasses and not be outside during daylight hours.
Indicated the use of antihistamines, as well as mast cell stabilizers. Sodium cromoglycate in the form of drops and Olopatadine are excellent. But this must be done systematically. Long-term use of these medications will help to avoid exacerbation.
To reduce itching, you will have to apply a 3% sodium bicarbonate solution. You can also make lotions from a solution of boric acid.
Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis
The treatment of this disease is aimed primarily at suppressing the virus that provoked it. Therefore, it is necessary to take antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs.
As a rule, Vidarabine, Riodoxol, Acyclovir, etc. are prescribed.
To process the follicle, you need to use brilliant green. Under the lower eyelid, be sure to lay an antiherpetic ointment. For example, Acyclovir, Virolex or Florenal.
If the area around the eyes is also affected, then you will need to start taking drugs such as Polyoxidonium, Cycloferon and V altrex.
But these are all strong drugs. How to treat keratoconjunctivitis in children? Babies in this case are prescribed interferons. Most often they are treated with drops. A popular option is Ophthalmoferon. It is instilled 5-6 times a day for 3 days, always after washing the eyes with chamomile decoction.
Chlamydial keratoconjunctivitis
In this case, the use of antibiotics is also indicated. The elimination of symptoms and treatment of this type of keratoconjunctivitis is carried out with the use of tetracyclines, macrolides and fluoroquinolones.
Topical therapy involves the use of eye drops (rr-ciprofloxacin and rr-ofloxacin),anti-inflammatory (p-p-dexamethasone and p-p-indomethacin) and ointment applications for the eyelids.
The treatment of this disease is not easy. It is carried out comprehensively. That is, they carry out therapy directed simultaneously against all pathogens identified during the tests.
General Therapeutic Recommendations
Any doctor will say that the treatment of dry keratoconjunctivitis in humans will be different from therapy aimed at eliminating the same disease, but only of a different type.
But there are general guidelines to consider.
Allergic keratoconjunctivitis should be treated immediately, as complications in this case arise quickly. First of all, it is required either to eliminate the irritant, or to limit contact with it. You also need to take vitamins and antihistamines to strengthen overall immunity.
If the form of the course is not complicated in a viral-type disease, then Pyrogenal, Reaferon and Poludan can be used.
It is also worth knowing that the notorious glucocorticosteroids eliminate signs of inflammation, but are powerless against adenovirus. They only relieve the symptoms. Therefore, due to improper treatment, the disease quickly becomes chronic.
With dry type, in addition to the use of artificial tears, you can use vaseline oil and "Lacrisin" - this will help restore the natural film on the eyeball.
And, of course, in any case, you need to take vitamin complexes. Which ones - will saydoctor. But you can’t do without them, since keratoconjunctivitis of any type has a negative effect on the immune system. And if the body does not have the strength, then after recovery, a relapse can quickly occur.
In general, the treatment of this disease should be started as early as possible. Timely therapy helps to avoid complications such as blurred vision, otitis media, scarring of the mucosa, and bacterial damage. But worst of all, when keratoconjunctivitis becomes chronic.
