Purulent Discharge on Cornea

Beeran Meghpara MD

Co-Director of the Refractive Surgery Department
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia

This 44-year-old, who used extended wear contact lenses, presents with a three day history of increasing pain, redness and poor vision. Why?

Analysis

In this image there is significant conjunctival and perilimbal injection. The corneal epithelium is no longer intact and there is a significant infiltration of the cornea such that the anterior chamber and iris details are lost. A hypopyon is present and the cornea in general is cloudy.

The patient was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer secondary to pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Video Analysis

In this 11-minute video featuring Dr. Beeran Meghpara, co-director of the Refractive Surgery Department at Wills Eye Hospital, you will learn:

  • How suppurative and the degree to which the epithelium is intact can serve to create a 2×2 matrix to help develop a differential diagnosis
  • How contact lens use increases the risk of corneal infection
  • The common pathogens for corneal ulcers

Clinical Tip

Patients are at risk if for recurrent corneal erosion if they have had a previous mechanical injury, a corneal dystrophy or have dry eye.