Punctate Keratitis - How long to heal?

[S_G]

I have blepharitis which I only found out about a couple of months ago.

I developed a red eye that streamed particularly when outdoors. It didn't hurt much but my vision was blurred. I thought it was late nights or "eye strain" from computer use so I left it over a year.

Then recently I noticed I had developed these little bumps all over part of my cornea and that led me to eventually go to an optician to get it seen to. They diagnosed me with blepharitis in both eyes (although it has only flared up in one) and told me that due to the eyelid glands being blocked, they were not secreting oil to spread over the eye surface and so I had developed dry eye which led to punctate keratitis - the little bumps and apparently its the keratitis which caused the blurring also.

So I was told to do the usual - hot compresses, eye hygiene involving baby shampoo and to use eye drops for lubricating the eye. So I have been doing this for about several weeks now and the redness has well died down and seems not to flare up anywhere near as red as it used to, and the streaming has greatly reduced. This is all great except for the fact that I still have the little bumps and blurred vision

So I am wondering if anyone knows how long punctate keratitis (the bumps) take to heal up, and when should I expect my vision to be normal? Can it take months? I forgot to ask my optician and am not due to see them again until late next month.

Any help or suggestions would be great

[littlemermaid]

Bumps and blurry vision

Unresolved damage to eye surface needs to be managed by ophthalmologist. You are not just seeing an optician are you? Stress 'blurry vision unresolved, cornea inflammation unresolved' to get seen pronto in NHS eye clinic. Find a decent large unit where they actually treat dry eye patients and chronic inflammation (instead of just giving us the brush off).

Punctate keratopathy = dot lesions on eye surface seen only with ophthalmoscope. 'Orange peel' bumps = stressed area of cornea not covered by tear film. At this stage littlemermaid was on: Fluorometholone steroid eyedrops, Fucithalmic antibacterial ointment, 4 wk checkups.

Blurry vision unresolved not OK - needs proper control for inflammation. What eyedrops you on?

[S_G]

Unresolved damage to eye surface needs to be managed by ophthalmologist. You are not just seeing an optician are you? Stress 'blurry vision unresolved, cornea inflammation unresolved' to get seen pronto in NHS eye clinic. Find a decent large unit where they actually treat dry eye patients and chronic inflammation (instead of just giving us the brush off).

Punctate keratopathy = dot lesions on eye surface seen only with ophthalmoscope. 'Orange peel' bumps = stressed area of cornea not covered by tear film. At this stage littlemermaid was on: Fluorometholone steroid eyedrops, Fucithalmic antibacterial ointment, 4 wk checkups.

Blurry vision unresolved not OK - needs proper control for inflammation. What eyedrops you on?

Thanks for the response :-) I have experienced the "brush off" by some lame opticians who basically told me it was nothing and sent me on my way with some antibiotic that did nothing. They thought it was just a mild infection and had no idea about the blepharitis or keratitis.

So I then went to a better optician. I should have mentioned that he sent me on to see eye specialists at an eye department of the local hospital. They looked at my eye with one of those things you mentioned, dying the eyeball and all that..and diagnosed me with the punctate keratitis. They seemed reluctant to give me steroids and didn't seem to think it was serious enough for that kind of step...

Instead they told me to use eye lubricants (viscotears) twice a day..nothing really for the actual keratitis. I have previously used fucilthalmic (after the antiobitoic diagnosed by specsavers) which didn't help at all sadly.

The people at the hospital told me all I had to do was use the lubricants and do the hot compresses twice a day...and seemed to think that it would be enough. Basically their idea was deal with the blep. and the ker. will resolve itself Sure enough the eye seems to be better now. It had been all small because of the swollen eyelid, and red so it was not a pretty sight But now its looking much better apart form these little bumps.

No one told me how long to expect the bumps and vision to improve. I didn't even ask so I'm just waiting. I will be seen by my optician again in a few weeks and if he thinks there is no improvement he said he will send me back to the people at the hospital..

But while I wait, I'm worried about the bumps. Its not the appearance that conncers me since they are small and only visible in certain light up real close. But I assume they are whats causing the blurring in the eye?

Did you have these bumps? Did they take a long time to heal

Edit: I noticed you imply that the punctate bumps are only visible with the opthlmoscope. I know I have the lesions since the specialists diagnosed it, but do you reckon the things I am seeing are not the lesions but must just be due to the dry eye? I'm so confused about which bumps are what I'm also confused about whichcould be causing the blurring: the dry eye? or the keratitis? They were quite vague and I stupidly forget to ask all these questions!

[littlemermaid]

Bumps on cornea, blurry vision

NHS waiting lists and referral procedures

Keratitis treated by warm compress, antibacterial ointment, Viscotears: eye improved but blurry vision and surface bumps still not improved? Isn't this blurred vision caused by untreated inflammation? or may be something else.

You can self-refer to your regional teaching hospital eye clinic for the best available diagnosis - phone up and ask to speak to the triage nurse, stress magic words 'blurry vision, keratitis, visible bumps on the cornea'. You'll need a lift there and back. Write your own notes and questions before you go. Be totally honest and clear with the ophthalmologist.

Now here's the trick. These guys are not yet computerised and do not speak to each other successfully. If you present as a new case that an optometrist has interfered with unsuccessfully (don't land him in it, he's trying to help in a harsh world): vision blurred, dry eye, warm compresses improving blepharitis but not vision = second opinion at least. You need clarification on the bumps, and the vision.

Sorry for delayed reply - nasty eyeball crisis.