Definition
A corneal ulcer is a superficial lesion, or injury, of the cornea in the eye. Because the cornea is the foremost layer of the eye, it can be quickly injured by splinters, for example. The injury is limited to the uppermost layers and is very painful.
Symptoms of a corneal ulcer
If the cornea is damaged, the symptoms are very pronounced. Since there are many nerve endings on the cornea and it is therefore well supplied by nerves, a corneal ulcer usually causes severe pain. In addition, it can lead to increased lacrimation.
The increased tearing of the eye serves as a protective and cleansing mechanism in case of damage to the cornea, as is the case with a corneal ulcer. However, the opposite is also possible: Too little tear fluid makes the eye dry and a foreign body sensation can develop. A foreign body sensation, as if you had a grain of sand in your eye, is also common in corneal ulcers.
In some cases, pus is also secreted because the corneal ulcer is an inflammatory process. This also explains the clear reddening of the eye that usually occurs. A corneal ulcer leads to a permanent irritation of the eye.
Therefore, those affected are often very sensitive to light. In addition, the irritation can lead to a cramping of the eyelid. Since the cornea plays an important role in vision, a corneal ulcer usually also leads to a significant impairment of vision. The environment can no longer be seen so clearly and usually nothing can be seen in the area of the corneal ulcer because no light can enter the eye at this point.
What are the causes of a corneal ulcer?
The simplest example of a trigger is an injury caused by an object. These are often objects such as champagne corks, clothes hangers or metal splinters. However, a corneal ulcer can also be caused by a too rare blinking of the eyelid.
This rare blinking of the eyelid manifests itself in the generally known “dry eye”. As soon as the cornea is no longer sufficiently moistened with tear fluid, it dries out. Various causes are conceivable: Paralysis of the facial nerve, Parkinson’s disease or a reduced eyelid reflex. But also foreign bodies that are directly adjacent to the cornea can lead to corneal ulcers. If contact lenses are worn for too long, for example, the cornea becomes irritated and can dry out.