Filamentary Keratitis: Causes, Treatment Video Symptoms, Treatment

Filamentary Keratitis

Filamentary Keratitis

Filamentary Keratitis is an eye disorder. It is a condition in which the strands composed of degenerate epithelial cells and mucus develop on and adhere to the corneal surface pain and foreign body sensation. Filamentary Keratitis is related to an alteration in the components of the film or of ocular surface disease and condition.

About Filamentary Keratitis

In Filamentary Keratitis, there is often an increase in the tear film mucus to aqueous ratio. This is commonly due to a decrease in aqueous tear production but may also be due to increased production or accumulation of the mucinous component. This alteration in tear film makeup sets the stage for the formation of mucoid filaments. Small defects in the corneal epithelium provide an anchoring surface for the filaments. Mucin attaches to the epithelial defect and loose epithelial strands are incorporated into the mucin strand attached to the surface. Filaments may be small sessile adhesions or longer strings that cause irritation and discomfort.

Development

It is hypothesized that the initial step in the development of filamentary keratitis is damage to basal epithelial cells, epithelial basement membrane or Bowman’s layer leading to focal detachments of the epithelial basement membrane. Blinking causes this area of detachments to become elevated leading to irritation, inflammation, and increased mucus production. The sites of epithelial damage provide the scaffold for the filaments to develop.

Patients with filamentary keratitis complain of foreign body sensation. They may also have redness, epiphora, blepharospasm, and photophobia.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs include multiple filamentary attachments firmly adherent to the corneal surface, decreased aqueous tears, increased mucin in the precorneal tear film, subepithelial opacities at the base of filaments, or frank corneal epithelial defects.

The diagnosis of filamentary keratitis is made clinically with history and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy demonstrates firmly adherent filaments on the corneal surface. A Schirmer test may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis of dry eye syndrome.

Treatment

The treatment of filamentary keratitis can be challenging and is often chronic. Paramount in the overall treatment of filamentary keratitis is the management of underlying conditions such as dry eye syndromes, medication toxicity, contact lens overuse, and blepharoptosis.

First-line treatment includes topical therapy with lubricant drops and ointment. Low water-content bandage contact lenses may be helpful temporarily. Acetylcysteine can be used topically to decrease the viscosity of the mucinous component of the tear film.

Frequently asked questions

What is filamentary keratitis?
Filamentary Keratitis is an eye disorder. It is a condition in which the strands composed of degenerate epithelial cells and mucus develop on and adhere to the corneal surface pain and foreign body sensation. Filamentary Keratitis is related to an alteration in the components of the film or of ocular surface disease and condition.

Is filamentary keratitis contagious?
No, it is not contagious. Filamentary keratitis can be viral with herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses

How to treat filamentary keratitis
Treatment can be acute or chronic, and severe cases may require multiple therapeutic modalities.

What causes filamentary keratitis?
How filamentary keratitis and corneal filaments are related?
Filamentary keratitis is a condition in which mucoid filaments are attached to the anterior corneal surface and cause a foreign body sensation in the patient

Which bacteria is known as filamentary keratitis bacteria?
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus etc

Which fungus is known as keratitis filamentous fungi?
The most frequent filamentous fungal genera among the causal agents are Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Curvularia

What is filamentary keratitis home remedy?
You can use artificial tear drops at home if its mild in condition

filamentary keratitis images

What should be done in filamentary keratitis management?
You use artificial tear drops at home if it’s mild in condition while if significant tearing and pain is observed then start medication in consultation with a physician

What is the meaning of filamentary keratitis?
It is a condition in which the strands composed of degenerate epithelial cells and mucus develop on and adhere to the corneal surface pain and foreign body sensation

What is filamentary keratitis medical term?
Filamentary Keratitis is related to an alteration in the components of the film or of ocular surface disease and condition.

Which are the filamentary keratitis organism?
Fungi like Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Curvularia
Bacteria like Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus etc
Viruses like herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses

Is filamentary keratitis removal possible?
Keratitis that’s caused by the small parasite acanthamoeba is often difficult to treat. Antibiotic eye drops are used, but some acanthamoeba infections are immune to medication. Severe cases of acanthamoeba keratitis may require a cornea transplant.

Is filamentary keratitis an autoimmune disease?
No, It is not an autoimmune disease but If your immune system is compromised due to disease or medications, you’re at higher risk of developing keratitis

What are the symptoms of filamentary keratitis?
Patients affected with filamentary keratitis are often highly symptomatic; the filaments may cause a persistent foreign body sensation, photophobia, and redness, that can range from moderate to severe in intensity.

References

http://www.biotissue.com/products/prokera/prokera-indications/filamentary-keratitis.aspx
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/services/cornea/conditions_we_treat/keratitis.html
https://clinicalgate.com/filamentary-keratitis/
http://eyewiki.org/Filamentary_Keratitis
https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/eye-ophthalmology-/filamentary-keratitis