Ask An Expert: Corneal Ulcers

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Ask An Expert: Corneal Ulcers

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Question:

What are the causes and treatments for corneal ulcers?

Answer:

If you are being very specific about your use of the term "ulcer," then you are referring to an infection of the cornea due to a bacterium, virus or fungus. In otherwise healthy people, corneal ulcers are often associated with wearing contact lenses.

Sometimes ulcers occur when an infection is present on another part of the face, especially an infection of an eyelid. Ulcers of the cornea also are a particular problem in chronically ill people whose immune systems are not up to par.

In most cases, ulcers of the cornea respond well to topical antibiotics, and antiviral and antifungal agents. Unfortunately, there are rare exceptions when a corneal ulcer doesn't heal no matter what is done.

Don Bienfang, M.D, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and the Senior Surgeon in the Department of Surgery and Chief of Neuro-Ophthalmology in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Last updated:	July 07, 2007

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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