How long until I recover from keratitis?
JAN 22, 2024
Question:
I was treated for keratitis three months ago and my vision is still blurry at distance. How long does it takes to fully recover from keratitis?
Answer:
Keratitis can refer to any inflammatory disorder of the cornea (such as an open sore on the cornea or a viral or fungal infection).
Recovery from keratitis—along with symptoms, treatment, and long-term visual impact—all depend on which part of the cornea is affected. All types of keratitis can affect vision while the swelling is active, but some can lead to long-term vision loss even after they are treated. Patients with epithelial keratitis, or swelling in the outermost layer of the cornea, make a full visual recovery after the keratitis is cured.
Inflammation in the middle layer of the cornea (the stroma) can lead to permanent scarring. In some cases, the scars fade enough for vision to normalize. The time required for the scars to fade varies by patient but usually takes many months.
Keratitis in the innermost layer of the cornea—the endothelium—may impair vision long term depending on its severity. Long-term endothelial damage can be treated with medications and with surgery.
This question was originally answered on Mar. 16, 2015.