| disease | Exposure Keratitis |
| alias | Exposure Keratitis |
Exposure keratitis is commonly seen in various conditions with incomplete eyelid closure, leading to corneal exposure and impaired blinking movement. As a result, tears cannot properly moisten the cornea, causing injury to the corneal epithelium.
bubble_chart Etiology
1. Exophthalmos caused by thyroid, pituitary, or orbital tumors.
2. Eyelid closure dysfunction due to cicatricial ectropion, orbital osteomyelitis, bone defects or cicatricial adhesions, orbicularis oculi muscle paralysis, levator palpebrae superioris muscle spasm, etc.
bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations
Due to the exposure of the corneal surface, the evaporation of tears is excessively rapid, leading to dryness, blurring, necrosis, shedding, ulceration, or keratinization of the corneal epithelium, accompanied by stromal infiltration and opacity. If the degree of incomplete eyelid closure is mild and, due to the upward rotation of the eye during closure (Bell's phenomenon), only one-third or less of the cornea is exposed, the corneal damage will also be limited to that area. Because of reduced corneal sensation, the reflex to block foreign invasions is impaired, making it prone to damage and even secondary bacterial or fungal infections.
In cases of incomplete eyelid closure, the exposed corneal surface becomes dry due to accelerated tear evaporation, resulting in severe infiltration and ulceration. This condition, without secondary infection, generally presents only a grayish-white appearance, without abrupt changes or purulent discharge.
bubble_chart Treatment Measures
1. The key issue is to immediately eliminate the phenomenon of incomplete closure. For grade I incomplete closure, wearing appropriate Saposhnikovia Root glasses during the day and applying antibiotic ointment in the conjunctival sac before sleep is sufficient.
2. Address the disease cause of eyelid incomplete closure. For cases caused by proptosis or ocular muscle paralysis that are difficult to improve temporarily, permanent tarsorrhaphy may be considered.3. Systemic diseases: In addition to seeking treatment assistance from relevant departments, orbital decompression surgery may be considered.
4. Infection prevention: Once bacterial or fungal infection occurs, it should be treated promptly according to the relevant inflammatory protocols. Delaying treatment must be avoided, as it may lead to severe consequences.
