Treatment Scope > Ophthalmology > Keratitis

Viral keratitis is the corneal inflammation, mostly caused by herpes simplex virus. It may have the history of fever due to cold. The manifestations include photophobia with lacrimation, painful sensation of eyes, at the early stage there are edema and alveoli underneath the corneal epithelium, which soon rupture, confluent and become dendroid forming dendritic superficial ulcer. The ulcer continuously spreads over and goes to the deep layer resulting in disc opacity on the corneal deep layer. The sensation of cornea decreases, severe cases may complicate iridocyclitis, even corneal perforation at ulcer location. After recurring repeatedly, the greyish white corneal patches will be left. 

Corneal infiltrate, edema, ulcer and patches all can make the transparent corneal tissue become opaque, reduce or lose the transparency and lead to visual descent. 

The development, recurrence and the reason for prolonged non-union of this disease are related to the following factors: 

1. Viral infection and the susceptibility of body to virus. 

2. When the body is infected with the inducing factors such as fatigue, the immunity of body and eyes are destroyed, which results in activation and reproduction of the latent herpes simplex virus, resulting in recurrence. 

3. The cellular immune function decreased in the body. 

4. Medications: 

(1). Antiviral drugs, if taken for long term, will damage cornea due to the toxic action; some drugs can suppress the replication and synthesis of viral RNA DNA, meanwhile they also suppress the replication and synthesis of RNA DNA and disturb the reparation of corneal tissue resulting in prolonged non-union of keratitis. 

(2). Corticosteroid drugs taken in for long term, which interfere the cellular immune function resulting in the original pathological changes recurred, even the corneal stroma becomes necrosis or complicated with infection. 

Etiology and pathogenesis explained in TCM: 

Exopathic factor: due to the invasion of exogenous wind-heat or wind-cold, and up to eyes. 

Endopathic factor: due to internal accumulation of damp heat in spleen and stomach, yin deficiency and blazing fire, excessive fire in liver and gallbladder, up-flaming of the accumulated heat in lung and liver and burning the dark part of eyes. 

Treatment principle: 

Anti-virus, dispersing wind and detoxication, regulating zang-fu and jing-lou, supporting resistance of body, improving body immunity, remove putrefaction and promote tissue regeneration, expel the darkness and brighten eyes. 

In our therapeutic center, we use herbs to treat keratitis, shortening the course significantly. At the same time as anti-virus, to improve corneal tissue repairing, increase metabolism, reduce scars formation, absorb the scarred and turbid corneal tissue gradually, improve the transparency of changed cornea and improve the visual field.