A corneal ulcer is an open sore on your cornea. It’s considered a medical emergency. Infections are the leading cause. Symptoms include a red or bloodshot eye, watering eye, severe eye pain, and pus or other eye discharge. In severe cases or cases with delays in treatment, a corneal ulcer is more likely to cause vision loss and blindness.
A corneal ulcer is a wound-like sore on your cornea, the clear, dome-shaped tissue layer at the front of your eye. Corneal ulcers can happen for several reasons, but they usually happen because of infections.
Your corneas are like a windshield on a car. They protect the inside of your eyes from the outside world. Damage to your cornea can create imperfections that are more vulnerable to infections and other issues. Having a corneal ulcer is like having a crack or chip in that windshield. Corneal ulcers are a medical emergency. They need immediate care because they can cause permanent eye damage, low vision and even blindness (especially without treatment).
Corneal ulcer symptoms vary widely. The most common ones include:
