Corneal Ulcer: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Corneal ulcer (thesaurus synonyms: Chronic ulcer with hypopyon; Erosio corneae; Ulcer of the corneal margin; Corneal erosion; Corneal perforation by ulcer; Corneal ulcer; Corneal ulcer of the eye; Keratitis ulcer; Keratitis with hypopyon; Keratitis with ulceration; corneal perforation by ulceration; marginal keratitis; marginal corneal ulcer; marginal corneal ulcer; Mooren’s ulcer; neuroparalytic ulcer; nontraumatic erosion of the cornea; perforated corneal ulcer; rheumatoid corneal ring ulcer; annular corneal ulcer; Sämisch ulcer; Sämisch ulcer of the cornea; subacute ulcer with hypopyon; marginal catarrhal ulcer; corneal ulcer; marginal corneal ulcer; corneal ulcer with hypopyon; corneal ulcer rodens (Mooren); dendritic ulcer; corneal ulcer rodens; scrofulosum ulcer; serpens ulcer; serpens corneal ulcer; ulcerative keratitis; xerosis corneae with ulcer; central corneal ulcer; ICD-10 H16. -: Ulcus corneae) refers to the corneal ulcer of the eye, which can occur as a complication in the course of keratitis (corneal inflammation).

The following forms of corneal ulcer can be distinguished:

  • Ulcus dendriticum – in keratitis herpetica (keratitis caused by herpes viruses; herpes on the eye).
  • Ulcus catarrhale marginale – in keratitis marginalis (marginal furrow keratitis).
  • Ulcus rodens (gnawing ulcer).
  • Ulcus scrofulosum – in the keratitis phlyctaenulosa.
  • Ulcus serpens – ulcer in the elderly with poor general condition.
  • Neuroparalytic ulcer

Figures on prevalence (frequency of disease) and incidence (frequency of new cases) are not available.

Course and prognosis: A corneal ulcer is basically to be considered a serious disease. Depending on the cause of the disease, the condition can deteriorate significantly very quickly (within hours). The ulcer can usually be treated well by drug therapy (locally in the form of eye drops). A scar (clouding of the cornea) then remains, which, depending on its size and location, can impair vision.If the ulcer leads to a perforation (breakthrough) in the worst case, emergency surgery is required. The outcome is then often serious. As a rule, vision is significantly impaired. It may even lead to blindness in the worst case.