What is a dendritic ulcer?
What is a dendritic ulcer?
What is a Dendrite Ulcer? A dendritic ulcer occurs when the virus affects the cornea, which is the clear window at the front of your eye.
Which disease is the most common manifestation of dendritic corneal ulcer?
Dendritic ulcers are the most common presentation of HSV keratitis. Prominent features of a dendritic ulcer include a linear branching pattern with terminal bulbs at the ends of the branches, swollen epithelial borders of the branches, and central ulceration through the basement membrane.
Do corneal ulcers heal?
With treatment, most corneal ulcers get better in 2 or 3 weeks. If you have trouble seeing because of scars from a corneal ulcer, you might need a corneal transplant.
Why do dendritic ulcers have terminal bulbs?
The HSV dendrite possesses terminal bulbs that distinguish it from the herpes zoster pseudodendrite and follows the nerve pattern of the cornea.
What happens if a corneal ulcer doesn’t heal?
If left untreated they can persist for many months causing continuous irritation. In some cases the eye may develop a granulation tissue reaction, in which the surface of the eye becomes reddened and inflamed- this can lead to reduced vision.
Do corneal ulcers go away?
Most of them should go away once you have the corneal ulcer treated and it has healed. If untreated, a corneal ulcer can lead to vision loss and even blindness.
What kind of ulcer looks like a dendrite?
Many corneal epithelial lesions can look ‘dendritic’: Herpes Simplex Keratitis – the classic branching ulcer with rolled edges, which can transform into a geographic ulcer – (typically after using steroid drops).
How is disciform keratitis different from dendritic ulcers?
Corneal endothelialitis (disciform keratitis) is a deeper infection the cornea (deeper than the dendritic ulcer above) If the infection is in the substance of the cornea the condition is called corneal endothelialitis or ‘stromal keratitis’ or ‘disciform keratitis’ or ‘herpetic’ keratitis’.
How can you tell if you have a dendritic corneal ulcer?
Dendritic corneal ulcers are painful; your eye feels as though something is scratching it. Sunlight and bright lights feel painful also. As the ulcer is like ‘paint on a window’ your sight may be blurred. In this condition the corneal nerves are damaged, and sensation is reduced. This is a test a doctor can carry out as part of the examination.
When to take steroids for delayed healing dendritic ulcers?
Some patients with delayed healing dendritic ulcers may need a different antiviral, but resistance is very rare and this is not usually necessary. More often, steroid drops are needed. Stromal keratitis will need steroid drops at the onset. it is best to taper the steroids after the attack, continuing them well after the ulcer has healed.