Clinical Evaluation of Corneal Ulcer among Patients Attending Teaching Hospital

Introduction: To effectively prevent blindness in patients with corneal ulcer, a proper understanding of risk factors predisposing to ulceration, and clinical and microbial characteristics of the disease is essential. Aim is to know the age and sex distribution of corneal ulcer. To identify the predisposing factors, etiological factors contributing to corneal ulcer. To study the clinical features and management of corneal ulcer. Material and methods: Study was undertaken among 80 patients who were diagnosed to have corneal ulcers for a period of 1 year. This is an observational study to identify the common etiological agents, predisposing factors, age, gender, and occupational distribution and to study the clinical features. Results: Corneal ulcers were common in age group 3rd and 4th decade (55%) More common in males. Male to Female is 1.63:1 Corneal ulcer was commonly observed in rural population (65%), and low socio economic status (60%).Most common in people whose occupation was Agriculture (48%). Ocular trauma was the major predisposing factor in majority of cases (46.25%).In viral keratitis Herpes simplex virus was more associated with corneal ulcers.10% KOH wet mount and Gram stain were helpful in initiation of antimicrobial therapy.10% KOH wet mount alone could identify fungi in 80.95% of culture positive cases. Culture positivity was 56.94%. Fungi namely Filamentous fungi was common etiological agent isolated (29.16%). In Fugal ulcers – Fusarium sp. was commonly isolated. 85% of Bacterial isolates were gram positive cocci. Conclusion: Improvement in laboratory facilities, early diagnosis and early initiation of therapy can save vision in case of corneal ulcer.