A corneal ulcer is an open sore in the cornea of the eye usually due to a bacterial infection. It can be caused by a number of things including chemical or physical trauma, contact lens misuse, or anything else that may scratch or compromise the cornea, allowing bacteria to enter. Symptoms include eye redness, mild to severe discharge, a feeling of a foreign object in the eye, and pain. Most of the time, corneal ulcers are preventable with proper care and treatment of the eye, especially after corneal abrasion. Corneal ulcers can be serious, even leading to loss of vision or blindness. With proper and timely treatment, the ulcer can improve, reducing the risk of permanent damage.

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