Vascular keratitis is a medical condition that involves inflammation of the cornea due to the infiltration of blood vessels. The correct spelling of this word is /ˈvæskjʊlər kɛrətaɪtɪs/. The first part of the word, "vascular," is pronounced as /ˈvæskjʊlər/, with the emphasis on the first syllable and the "s" being pronounced like a "z". The second part, "keratitis," is pronounced as /kɛrətaɪtɪs/, with the emphasis on the second syllable and the "it" being pronounced as "eye-t" rather than "it".
Vascular keratitis refers to the inflammation and irritation of the cornea that is accompanied by the abnormal growth and proliferation of blood vessels within the cornea. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped tissue at the front of the eye that helps to focus light. It is normally avascular, meaning it lacks blood vessels. However, in cases of vascular keratitis, blood vessels begin to invade the cornea, disrupting its transparent nature and causing various symptoms and complications.
Vascular keratitis can be caused by several factors, including infections such as herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus, inflammatory conditions like autoimmune diseases, exposure to certain medications or chemicals, trauma to the eye, or underlying systemic diseases. Symptoms of vascular keratitis may include blurred or decreased vision, eye redness, pain, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing, and the sensation of a foreign object in the eye.
The abnormal blood vessel growth in vascular keratitis can lead to serious complications and vision loss if left untreated. Treatment options vary depending on the underlying cause but can include topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, antiviral drugs, or immunosuppressive therapy. In severe cases, surgical interventions or corneal transplantation may be required to restore vision.
Overall, vascular keratitis is a condition characterized by inflammation and the formation of blood vessels in the cornea. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to prevent irreversible damage to the cornea and preserve visual acuity.
Super ficial infiltration of the cornea and roughness of the epithelial layer accompanied with a development of blood-vessels between Bowman's membrane and the epithelial layer; when pronounced it gives rise to pannus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "vascular keratitis" can be broken down into two parts: "vascular" and "keratitis".
- "Vascular" originates from the Latin word "vasculum", meaning "small vessel" or "blood vessel". It is derived from the Latin word "vas", which means "vessel" or "container". In this context, "vascular" refers to anything related to blood vessels.
- "Keratitis" comes from the Greek word "keras", meaning "horn" or "cornea", and the suffix "-itis", which is used to denote inflammation. "Keratitis" specifically refers to the inflammation of the cornea, which is the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye.
Therefore, "vascular keratitis" refers to the inflammation of the cornea that involves the blood vessels within or surrounding it.