Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Epithelial keratitis is a specific variety of keratitis in which the inflammation is virtually resticted to the corneal epithelium. It is characterized by a focal inflammatory infiltration of the corneal epithelium. Staphylococcus [staphylococcal infection] is one of the most frequent types of epithelial keratitis. Other causes are adenovirus [epidemic keratoconjunctivitis] and primary Herpes simplex. In most instances the superficial corneal stroma also contains an inflammatory cell infiltrate. A bilateral epithelial keratitis is almost always present in measles.