{"id":11416963,"date":"2026-10-04T20:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T17:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/fungal-keratitis\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T20:46:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T17:46:04","slug":"fungal-keratitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/","title":{"rendered":"Fungal Keratitis: 7 Facts About Symptoms, Causes and Treatment You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Fungal_Keratitis_A_Rare_but_Serious_Eye_Infection\" >Fungal Keratitis: A Rare but Serious Eye Infection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#What_Is_Fungal_Keratitis\" >What Is Fungal Keratitis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Symptoms_of_Fungal_Keratitis\" >Symptoms of Fungal Keratitis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Causes_and_Risk_Factors\" >Causes and Risk Factors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#How_Is_Fungal_Keratitis_Diagnosed\" >How Is Fungal Keratitis Diagnosed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#How_Is_Fungal_Keratitis_Treated\" >How Is Fungal Keratitis Treated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#When_Is_It_an_Emergency\" >When Is It an Emergency?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Why_Healing_Can_Be_Slow\" >Why Healing Can Be Slow<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#How_to_Protect_Yourself\" >How to Protect Yourself<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Fungal_Keratitis_FAQ\" >Fungal Keratitis FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Is_fungal_keratitis_contagious\" >Is fungal keratitis contagious?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Can_it_be_cured_completely\" >Can it be cured completely?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Can_antibiotic_drops_treat_it\" >Can antibiotic drops treat it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Does_treatment_have_side_effects\" >Does treatment have side effects?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/fungal-keratitis\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"top\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fungal_Keratitis_A_Rare_but_Serious_Eye_Infection\"><\/span>Fungal Keratitis: A Rare but Serious Eye Infection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The cornea is the clear window at the front of the eye, and any infection there can leave a lasting mark on vision. One of the most serious is <strong>fungal keratitis<\/strong>, which develops slowly but can progress to a deep ulcer if treatment is delayed. This educational article explains its symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin: 0 0 18px;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nat-article-keratitis-en.jpg\" alt=\"fungal keratitis \u2013 Fungal Keratitis\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Fungal_Keratitis\"><\/span>What Is Fungal Keratitis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fungal keratitis is an infection of the cornea caused by fungi. The most common culprits are filamentous fungi such as Fusarium and Aspergillus, and sometimes yeasts such as Candida. It is more common in hot, humid and agricultural regions and often follows an eye injury from plant material.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symptoms_of_Fungal_Keratitis\"><\/span>Symptoms of Fungal Keratitis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Eye pain that gradually increases.<\/li>\n<li>Persistent redness.<\/li>\n<li>Blurred or reduced vision.<\/li>\n<li>Light sensitivity and excessive tearing.<\/li>\n<li>A feeling that something is in the eye.<\/li>\n<li>A white or grey patch on the cornea, sometimes with feathery edges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Symptoms usually develop more slowly than in bacterial infection, which is why some people with fungal keratitis delay seeing a doctor.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_and_Risk_Factors\"><\/span>Causes and Risk Factors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>An eye injury from a twig, straw or soil during farm or garden work.<\/li>\n<li>Poor contact lens habits, such as sleeping in lenses or rinsing them with tap water.<\/li>\n<li>Long-term use of steroid eye drops without follow-up.<\/li>\n<li>Chronic eye surface disease or a weakened immune system.<\/li>\n<li>Previous corneal surgery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Fungal_Keratitis_Diagnosed\"><\/span>How Is Fungal Keratitis Diagnosed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The eye doctor examines the cornea with a slit lamp and often takes a small scraping from the ulcer for staining and culture to identify the fungus. Some centres also use confocal microscopy to see fungal filaments inside the cornea. This step matters because fungal keratitis is treated completely differently from bacterial infection.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Fungal_Keratitis_Treated\"><\/span>How Is Fungal Keratitis Treated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Treatment is based on antifungal eye drops. <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/natamycin-eye-drops\/\">Natamycin eye drops<\/a> 5% are among the most important, especially for Fusarium infections \u2013 one example is <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/natamet-eye-drops-5-5ml\/\">Natamet 5% eye drops<\/a>. Depending on the fungus and response, the doctor may add other medicines such as voriconazole.<\/p>\n<p>Drops are given very frequently at first, treatment lasts for weeks, and follow-up is close. In severe or non-responding cases of fungal keratitis, the doctor may consider surgery such as a corneal transplant.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Is_It_an_Emergency\"><\/span>When Is It an Emergency?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Sudden, severe eye pain.<\/li>\n<li>Rapid loss of vision.<\/li>\n<li>A white patch appearing on the cornea.<\/li>\n<li>No improvement after 7\u201310 days of treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Healing_Can_Be_Slow\"><\/span>Why Healing Can Be Slow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fungi grow slowly inside the corneal tissue, and antifungals take longer to work than antibiotics. Some fungal species are also less sensitive to a given drug. That is why the doctor regularly measures the size and depth of the ulcer and may adjust treatment if progress is not enough.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Protect_Yourself\"><\/span>How to Protect Yourself<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Wear protective glasses when farming, gardening or pruning.<\/li>\n<li>Never sleep in contact lenses or rinse them with water.<\/li>\n<li>Use steroid eye drops only with a prescription and follow-up.<\/li>\n<li>See a doctor promptly after any eye injury.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These simple habits greatly reduce the risk of fungal keratitis, especially for people who work outdoors or wear contact lenses every day.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fungal_Keratitis_FAQ\"><\/span>Fungal Keratitis FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_fungal_keratitis_contagious\"><\/span>Is fungal keratitis contagious?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It does not usually spread from person to person, but never share eye drops or towels.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_it_be_cured_completely\"><\/span>Can it be cured completely?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many people recover with early diagnosis and regular treatment, although a scar may remain depending on the depth of the ulcer.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_antibiotic_drops_treat_it\"><\/span>Can antibiotic drops treat it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Antibiotics do not treat fungi. The doctor decides on treatment after diagnosis.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_treatment_have_side_effects\"><\/span>Does treatment have side effects?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Read our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/natamycin-side-effects\/\">natamycin side effects<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fungal keratitis is a serious infection that needs fast diagnosis and regular antifungal treatment under an eye doctor\u2019s care. Do not ignore pain or redness after a plant injury or while using contact lenses. If your doctor prescribes treatment, you can find <a href=\"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/product\/natamet-eye-drops-5-5ml\/\">Natamet 5% eye drops<\/a> at No Style Like pharmacy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.95em; color: #555; margin-top: 18px;\">This article was reviewed by the No Style Like pharmacy content team. It is purely educational and does not include doses for self-treatment. Natamycin is a prescription medicine used only under the supervision of a specialist eye doctor, not for self-use, and this article does not replace a medical examination.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.95em; color: #555;\">Never put steroid drops in an inflamed eye without your doctor\u2019s instruction. Never use any eye drop for an undiagnosed red or painful eye, and keep all medicines out of the reach of children. For more information see <a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/001032.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">MedlinePlus on corneal ulcers and infections<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fungal keratitis explained: symptoms, causes and risk factors, how eye doctors diagnose and treat it with antifungals such as natamycin, and when it is an emergency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":11416961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11416963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eye-health-vision-care"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11416963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/86"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11416963"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11416963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11416975,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11416963\/revisions\/11416975"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11416961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11416963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11416963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nostylelike.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11416963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}