Infectious Keratitis in Patients Over 65: A Review on Treatment and Preserving Eyesight

Infectious keratitis (IK) represents a significant global health concern, ranking as the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide despite being largely preventable and treatable. Elderly populations are particularly susceptible due to age-related changes in immune response and corneal structure. H...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical interventions in aging 2024-07, Vol.19, p.1393-1405
Main Authors: Kim, Christine K, Karslioglu, Melisa Z, Zhao, Sharon H, Lee, Olivia L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acanthamoeba keratitis
Acanthamoeba Keratitis - drug therapy
Acanthamoeba Keratitis - therapy
Aged
Aged patients
Aging
Antifungal agents
bacterial keratitis
Blindness
Care and treatment
Cornea
Demographic aspects
Development and progression
Diseases
fungal keratitis
Health aspects
Humans
Immune response
inflammaging
Keratitis
Keratitis - drug therapy
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Permeability
Prevention
Review
Risk Factors
viral keratitis
World health
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Summary:Infectious keratitis (IK) represents a significant global health concern, ranking as the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide despite being largely preventable and treatable. Elderly populations are particularly susceptible due to age-related changes in immune response and corneal structure. However, research on IK in this demographic remains scarce. Age-related alterations such as increased permeability and reduced endothelial cell density further compound susceptibility to infection and hinder healing mechanisms. Additionally, inflammaging, characterized by chronic inflammation that develops with advanced age, disrupts the ocular immune balance, potentially exacerbating IK and other age-related eye diseases. Understanding these mechanisms is paramount for enhancing IK management, especially in elderly patients. This review comprehensively assesses risk factors, clinical characteristics, and management strategies for bacterial, viral, fungal, and acanthamoeba keratitis in the elderly population, offering crucial insights for effective intervention.
ISSN:1178-1998
1176-9092
1178-1998
DOI:10.2147/CIA.S467262