What causes corneal ulcers?
ANSWER
Most corneal ulcers are caused by infections. Tiny tears to the cornea may also cause corneal ulcers. These tears can come from direct trauma; scratches; or particles, such as sand, glass, or small pieces of steel.
Disorders that cause dry eyes can leave your eye without the germ-fighting protection of tears and cause ulcers.
Disorders that affect the eyelid and prevent your eye from closing completely, such as Bell's palsy, can dry your cornea and make it more vulnerable to ulcers.
Chemical burns or other caustic (damaging) solution splashes can injure the cornea.
From: Corneal Ulcer WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Alan Kozarsky on April 20, 2018
Author: Fernando H. Murillo-Lopez, MD, Instructor, Department of Ophthalmology, Bolivian National Institute of Ophthalmology.
Coauthor(s): Yesha R. Patel, MD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford-Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency Program; David Jerrard, MD, Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center.
Editors: Richard W. Allinson, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Ophthalmology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Scott and White Clinic; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Robert H. Graham, MD, Ophthalmologist, Robert H. Graham, MD, PC; Affiliated With Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona and Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Corneal Ulcer from eMedicineHealth.
Author: Fernando H. Murillo-Lopez, MD, Instructor, Department of Ophthalmology, Bolivian National Institute of Ophthalmology.
Coauthor(s): Yesha R. Patel, MD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford-Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency Program; David Jerrard, MD, Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center.
Editors: Richard W. Allinson, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Ophthalmology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Scott and White Clinic; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Robert H. Graham, MD, Ophthalmologist, Robert H. Graham, MD, PC; Affiliated With Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona and Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Corneal Ulcer from eMedicineHealth.
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