Corneal Infections, Inflammations, and Surface Disorders
BACTERIAL KERATITIS
Bacterial keratitis is a serious, potentially sight-threatening corneal infection that typically develops in patients with a compromised corneal surface.
Predisposing Factors
• Contact lens wear, especially extended-wear soft lenses
• Corneal trauma, foreign bodies
• Ocular surface disease (e.g., exposure/neurotrophic keratopathy, chronic bullous keratopathy, dry eye syndrome, trichiasis, distichiasis, entropion)
• Topical immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., corticosteroids)
• Immunocompromised patient
• Postoperative: corneal wound or suture related (e.g., corneal graft)
Etiology
• Staphylococcus
• Streptococcus
• Pseudomonas
• Moraxella
• Atypical mycobacteria, many others
Symptoms
• Pain, irritation, redness, photophobia, discharge, decreased vision, contact lens intolerance
Signs
• Vary according to the severity of the infection and, to a lesser extent, the causative organism
• White stromal infiltrate associated with conjunctival injection and typically with an overlying epithelial defect. There may be stromal loss (ulcer) (Fig. 7-1A and B).
• There may be surrounding stromal edema, Descemet folds, secondary reactive iritis, and hypopyon (Fig. 7-1C-H, eFig. 7-1C and D).
• Staphylococcal keratitis is typically characterized by a well-defined white-gray or creamy stromal infiltrate that may enlarge to form a dense stromal abscess.
• Streptococcal keratitis may be suppurative or have a crystalline appearance. Severe anterior uveitis and hypopyon formation are common.
• Pseudomonal keratitis typically presents as a rapidly progressive, suppurative infiltrate associated with hypopyon and a mucopurulent discharge. Corneal perforation may occur (Fig. 7-1G, eFig. 7-1G).
Differential Diagnosis
• Sterile ulcers: vernal shield ulcer, neurotrophic or exposure keratitis, autoimmune keratitis, contact lens-induced sterile keratitis, and medicamentosa keratitis. Usually less painful, minimal or no iritis, or corneal edema, and culture is negative.
• Staphylococcal hypersensitivity keratitis: Infiltrates may be bilateral; multiple; peripheral; often located at the 2, 4, 8, or 10 o’clock position; associated with blepharitis; epithelial defect is absent or is smaller than the infiltrate; and there is minimal anterior chamber activity.
• Other microbial (nonbacterial) keratitis: Bacterial cultures are negative. Fungal and special cultures and stains are necessary for diagnosis.
Diagnosis
• Corneal scraping for Gram stain, Giemsa stain, calcofluor white stain, cultures, and sensitivity testing. Routine media include blood, chocolate, Sabouraud agars, and thioglycolate broths.
• For deep lesions or when repeated cultures are negative in recalcitrant cases, a corneal biopsy may be necessary.
Treatment
• Empirical outpatient treatment with broad-spectrum, topical, nonfortified antibiotic drops may be sufficient for small (2 mm or less) peripheral ulcers with minimal symptoms and minimal anterior chamber activity. Topical fluoroquinolone (e.g., moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, besifloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin) drops q30-60min around the clock initially, after a loading dose of one drop q5min for 15 minutes.
• For larger ulcers or when the ulcers involve the visual axis, or are associated with significant discharge, anterior chamber activity, and hypopyon, treatment may require intensive fortified antibiotic drops. Some patients may need hospitalization. Fortified cefazolin (50 mg/mL) or vancomycin (25 mg/mL) and fortified gentamicin or tobramycin (15 mg/mL). Frequency of instillation: one drop q5min for 30 minutes, then q30-60min, of each drop. Wait 5 minutes between administration of each medication.
• Subconjunctival antibiotics are necessary only if fortified eye drops cannot be started soon.
• Oral antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin 400 mg q.d., ciprofloxacin 500 mg b.i.d., or levofloxacin 500 mg q.d.) are helpful if the ulcer involves the sclera or has extended into the eye. Systemic antibiotics are also required for Neisseria and severe Haemophilus infections (e.g., ceftriaxone 1 g IV or IM q12-24h).
• Cycloplegics are often used to reduce ciliary spasm and to prevent posterior synechiae (e.g., cyclopentolate 1%, scopolamine 0.25%, or atropine 1% t.i.d.).
• Modify the regimen according to the clinical response and culture and sensitivity results.
• Topical corticosteroids can be used for severe inflammation only after the organism is identified and the infection is under control.
• Urgent corneal transplantation may be necessary in severe cases that are progressing despite aggressive treatment or for ulcers that have perforated.
Prognosis
• Close follow-up is required. Prognosis is very good for small ulcers, good for moderate ulcers, and poor for severe ulcers. Better prognosis for ulcers outside the visual axis than for ulcers in the visual axis.
FUNGAL KERATITIS
Fungal keratitis is a very serious, potentially sight-threatening corneal infection that most commonly develops in patients after trauma or in those with a compromised corneal surface.
Etiology
• Nonfilamentous (e.g., Candida): Candida keratitis is an uncommon, unilateral, insidious fungal infection that usually occurs in eyes with preexisting chronic corneal disease (e.g., dry eyes, herpes keratitis, exposure keratopathy, postkeratoplasty, chronic use of corticosteroid drops) or in severely debilitated patients. Features include a gray-white stromal infiltrate similar to a bacterial ulcer, but can have a crystalline appearance. May have an anterior chamber reaction and hypopyon (Fig. 7-2A and B, eFig. 7-2A)
• Filamentous (e.g., Aspergillus, Fusarium): Filamentous keratitis is an uncommon, unilateral, insidious or aggressive fungal infection that frequently affects normal eyes following ocular trauma associated with vegetative matter and in soft contact lens wearers. Features include a grayish-white infiltrate with indistinct feathery borders, typically surrounded by finger-like satellite infiltrates in adjacent stroma. The infiltrates may extend beyond the epithelial defect. May have an associated ring infiltrate, anterior chamber reaction, and hypopyon (Fig. 7-2C-F, eFig. 7-2B and C).
Symptoms
• Pain, photophobia, tearing, decreased vision; may have a history of trauma, contact lens use, or corticosteroid eye drop usage
Differential Diagnosis
• Fungal keratitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bacterial or herpetic keratitis that does not respond to conventional treatment or that has an unusual history or suspicious appearance.
Diagnostic Evaluation
• History of trauma (which is often minor) involving vegetative matter is highly suggestive.
• Lack of response to conventional antibacterial therapy
• Corneal scrapings for Gram, Giemsa, calcofluor white, or Gomori methenamine silver stain, and culture (may take up to a week or two for fungus to grow)
• Corneal biopsy may be required if repeated smears and cultures are negative.
Treatment
• Topical natamycin 5% (especially for filamentous fungi) and/or amphotericin B 0.15% (especially for Candida) q1h around the clock and tapered over 4 to 6 weeks. Patients may require hospitalization initially. Topical voriconazole 1% may also be effective.
• Oral voriconazole 200 mg b.i.d. or itraconazole or fluconazole 200 to 400 mg loading dose followed by 100 to 200 mg q.d. may be helpful in addition to the intensive topical medications.
• Cycloplegics (e.g., cyclopentolate 1%, scopolamine 0.25%, or atropine 1% t.i.d.)
• Corticosteroids are contraindicated.
• Modify regimen according to clinical response and culture results.
• Therapeutic corneal transplantation may be necessary for unresponsive cases or perforated ulcers. Lamellar keratoplasty is relatively contraindicated because there is a high risk of recurrence of infection.
Prognosis
• Fair for mild-to-moderate infections; poor for severe infections.
ACANTHAMOEBA KERATITIS
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare parasitic infection of the cornea associated with the use of soft contact lenses and inadequate contact lens hygiene (e.g., using tap water or homemade saline solution, swimming or hot tub use while wearing contact lenses) and, occasionally, trauma. It should be considered in nonresponsive, culture-negative keratitis.
Etiology
• Acanthamoeba species
Symptoms
• Severe pain often out of proportion to the severity of keratitis, redness, tearing, decreased vision, photophobia, and minimal discharge. Symptoms typically develop over a period of weeks, but onset can be more rapid.
• History of soft contact lens use and occasionally trauma
Signs
• Epithelial or subepithelial infiltrates appearing as pseudodendrites early on (Fig. 7-3A and B, eFig. 7-3A)
• Patchy anterior stromal infiltrates may be present early on.
• Radial keratoneuritis (Fig. 7-3C, eFig. 7-3C)
• A nonsuppurative stromal ring infiltrate, often with variable epithelial breakdown, can develop over weeks. The degree of inflammation is disproportionately mild relative to the amount of pain (Fig. 7-3D-F).
• In advanced cases, corneal thinning or perforation, scleritis, or hypopyon may develop (eFig. 7-3G).
Differential Diagnosis
• Herpes simplex keratitis
• Fungal keratitis
• Bacterial keratitis
Diagnosis
• Pain disproportionate to the severity of inflammation
• Lack of response to antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral therapy
• Ring infiltrate and radial keratoneuritis are highly suggestive.
• Corneal scrapings for Gram, Giemsa, or calcofluor white stain for amoebic cysts
• Culture on non-nutrient agar with Escherichia coli overlay or special media (e.g., buffered charcoal yeast extract agar)
• Corneal biopsy may be necessary if smears and cultures are negative.
Treatment
• Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) 0.02% drops q1h. Chlorhexidine 0.02% can be used as an alternative to PHMB.
• Propamidine isethionate 1% (e.g., Brolene) drops q1h
• Oral voriconazole 200 mg b.i.d. or itraconazole 200 to 400 mg q.d. may be used in addition to the topical medications. Oral miltefosine 50 mg b.i.d. or t.i.d. for 28 days may also be effective.
• Other drops (e.g., clotrimazole 1%) may be added, depending on the severity or treatment response of the infection.
• Cycloplegics (e.g., cyclopentolate 1%, scopolamine 0.25%, or atropine 1% t.i.d.)
• Low-dose topical corticosteroids may be helpful in reducing inflammation once the infection appears to be under control.
• Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents or narcotics for pain relief
• Modify regimen according to clinical response.
• Corneal transplantation may be required if medical therapy fails, but there is risk of recurrence.
Prognosis
• Fair to good if diagnosed and treated appropriately within the first few weeks or so of development of symptoms; poor if significant corneal involvement is present.
HERPES SIMPLEX KERATITIS
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is an extremely common condition that affects a major proportion of the population, although most infections are subclinical. Eye involvement occurs in primary ocular herpes but most commonly in recurrent disease.
Etiology
• HSV type I: generally causes infection above the waist, especially of the face, lips, and eyes. Transmitted by close contact. Much more common in the eye than type II.
• HSV type II: generally causes infection below the waist, particularly of the genitalia. Transmitted sexually, but neonates can be infected during vaginal delivery. Uncommon in the eye.
PRIMARY OCULAR HERPES
• Unilateral or bilateral facial and/or eye infection
Etiology and Epidemiology
• Primary contact with HSV
• Usually occurs in children or adolescents
Symptoms
• Fever, flu-like symptoms
• Facial vesicular rash. Ocular redness, pain, decreased vision, and tearing
Signs
• There may be vesicular blepharoconjunctivitis or periorbital dermatitis. The vesicles usually progress to form crusts (Fig. 7-4, eFig. 7-4). There may be associated acute follicular conjunctivitis with preauricular lymphadenopathy.
• The cornea may be involved in the form of coarse macropunctate epithelial keratitis or multiple small branching epithelial dendrites without stromal involvement.
Treatment
• Blepharoconjunctivitis: ganciclovir (e.g., Zirgan) gel, trifluridine (e.g., Viroptic) drops, vidarabine (e.g., Vira-A) ointment, or acyclovir (e.g., Zovirax ophthalmic) ointment five times a day
• Corneal involvement: ganciclovir (e.g., Zirgan) gel five times a day or trifluridine drops (e.g., Viroptic) nine times a day. Alternatively, or in addition, can use oral acyclovir 200 to 400 mg five times a day, valacyclovir 500 mg t.i.d., or famciclovir 250 mg t.i.d. for 7 to 14 days.
• Consider topical antibiotic or acyclovir ointment to help heal skin lesions away from the eyelid margin.
Prognosis
• Good. This is usually a benign and self-limited condition, but the virus subsequently establishes a latent infection in the trigeminal ganglion and may reactivate, especially during periods of physical or emotional stress, causing recurrent ocular disease.
RECURRENT OCULAR HERPES SIMPLEX
Recurrent ocular herpes may take the forms of infectious epithelial keratitis, disciform endotheliitis, non-necrotizing (immune) stromal keratitis, keratouveitis, and necrotizing stromal keratitis. Neurotrophic keratopathy can also develop.
Etiology and Epidemiology
• Recurrent HSV is caused by a reactivation of latent infection in the trigeminal ganglion, especially during periods of physical or emotional stress.
• It occurs in children and adults.
• It is usually unilateral, but it can be bilateral, especially in immunocompromised patients and those with atopy.
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS: EPITHELIAL KERATITIS (DENDRITIC ULCER)
Epithelial keratitis is a common, usually unilateral condition caused by the presence of live virus within corneal epithelial cells.
Symptoms
• Unilateral (typically) redness, tearing, irritation, decreased vision, photophobia, often history of previous episodes
Signs
• Single or multiple branching, ulcerating epithelial lesions with raised edges and terminal bulb formation (Fig. 7-5A-C, eFig. 7-5A-C).
• Enlargement of ulcers can lead to the formation of an amoebic-shaped “geographic” ulcer (Fig. 7-5D and E).
• The ulcer bed stains with fluorescein. The built-up, swollen, opalescent margins of the lesion containing virus-laden cells stain with rose bengal.
• Anterior stromal haze called “ghost dendrites” may develop below the epithelial lesions (Fig. 7-5F).
• Corneal sensation is often diminished.
Differential Diagnosis
• Herpes zoster keratitis: associated with a history of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) with typical skin vesicles found along dermatomal distribution of the face. May have elevated epithelial lesions with tapered ends, which lack terminal bulbs. The entire “mucous plaque dendrite” stains with rose bengal and mildly with fluorescein. Prior to development of the typical zoster rash, early zoster dendrites can look very similar to HSV dendrites.
• Acanthamoeba pseudodendrites
• Healing epithelial defects
• Toxic epitheliopathy
Treatment
• Ganciclovir (e.g., Zirgan) gel five times a day, trifluridine (e.g., Viroptic) drops q2h during the day, vidarabine (e.g., Vira-A) ointment five times a day, or acyclovir (e.g., Zovirax ophthalmic) ointment five times a day for 7 to 14 days. Can also be treated with oral acyclovir 400 mg five times a day, valacyclovir 500 mg t.i.d., or famciclovir 250 mg t.i.d. for 7 to 14 days.
• If the patient is already on corticosteroids, the steroids should be tapered rapidly.
• Epithelial debridement can help reduce viral load.
• If there is no response to treatment after 1 week, then poor compliance, resistance to antiviral therapy, antiviral toxicity, or neurotrophic disease should be considered. • A short course of systemic acyclovir is unnecessary, because it does not prevent
subsequent development of stromal keratitis or uveitis, but it can be used in place of frequent topical antivirals as earlier.
subsequent development of stromal keratitis or uveitis, but it can be used in place of frequent topical antivirals as earlier.
• Consider long-term oral antiviral prophylaxis (e.g., acyclovir 400 mg b.i.d.) if a patient has had multiple episodes of herpetic eye disease.
Prognosis
• Good, but recurrences are common.
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS: DISCIFORM ENDOTHELIITIS AND NON-NECROTIZING (IMMUNE) STROMAL KERATITIS
Disciform endotheliitis is a primarily inflammatory condition caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to the herpes simplex viral antigen in the corneal endothelium, whereas non-necrotizing (immune) stromal keratitis is a primarily inflammatory condition caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to the herpes simplex viral antigen in the corneal stroma.
Symptoms
• Unilateral redness, tearing, irritation, blurred vision, photophobia, often history of previous episodes
Signs
• Disciform endotheliitis
▪ Central disc of stromal and epithelial edema (Fig. 7-6A and B, eFig. 7-6A)
▪ Small keratic precipitates localized to the underlying endothelium
▪ Folds in Descemet membrane
• Non-necrotizing (immune) stromal keratitis
▪ Stromal haze or infiltrate (whitening)
▪ Surrounding stromal immune ring (Wessely ring) may be present.
▪ May have corneal neovascularization and lipid deposition (eFig. 7-6C)
▪ The limbal tissue may be thickened and inflamed (limbitis) (Fig. 7-6C).
• Anterior uveitis (Fig. 7-6D, eFig. 7-6D)
• Iris transillumination defects (Fig. 7-6E, eFig. 7-6E)
• Intraocular pressure may be elevated.
• Corneal sensation is typically reduced.
Differential Diagnosis
• Herpes simplex or zoster necrotizing stromal keratitis
• Fuchs endothelial dystrophy
• Acute corneal hydrops of keratoconus
• Contact lens overwear keratitis
Treatment
• If inflammation is mild and vision is good, the condition can be observed.
• In more severe cases, topical corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone 1%, dexamethasone 0.1%, difluprednate 0.05%, or loteprednol 0.5% drops four to eight times a day) can be started, maintained for several days to weeks, then gradually tapered over weeks or months. Often, a very low dose of topical corticosteroid (e.g., once or twice a week) may be required to prevent recurrent inflammation.
• While on corticosteroids more than once a day, concomitant oral antiviral therapy (e.g., acyclovir 400 mg b.i.d.) is often used as prophylaxis.
• If an epithelial lesion is present, it should be treated before starting corticosteroids.
• Recommend long-term oral antiviral prophylaxis (e.g., acyclovir 400 mg b.i.d.) if a patient has had multiple episodes of endotheliitis or stromal keratitis.
• Consider a corneal graft for significant inactive scarring.
Prognosis
• Good for most, but depends on severity. Stromal scarring may occur and reduce vision (Fig. 7-6F). May also recur in a corneal graft.
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS: NECROTIZING STROMAL KERATITIS
Necrotizing stromal keratitis is unusual. It is most likely caused by a combination of viral infiltration and inflammation of the corneal stroma.
Symptoms
• Unilateral redness, tearing, irritation, blurred vision, photophobia, pain, history of previous episodes
Signs
• Necrotic, cheesy, stromal infiltration, usually associated with an epithelial defect (Fig. 7-7A, eFig. 7-7A)