Diagnosed with keratitis

[Rufaidahh]

Exactly a week ago, I had a terrible time my eyes were red, I could barely open them or blink without feeling pain and they were tearing up like crazy (mind you, I wear contacts daily). I went to my eye doctor and he said I had keratitis (the pain was only in the right eye so he didn't bother to check the other one, after a follow-up appointment a couple days later he checked the other eye and realized there was keratitis in that one too). I've been taking eye drops and ointment since then & the pain/redness has subsided, he said it's improving so it's bacterial keratitis. However, there is still that distinctive white rim around my eyes. My question is how long does keratitis (resulting from contact lens wear) take to heal? Mine doesn't seem severe from his demeanor, but the fact that the whiteness still hasn't subsided is scaring me a bit. I don't mind wearing glasses, but at the same time I'm anxious to wear contacts again every now and then.

[JohnHaganMD]

Bacterial keratitis due to contact lens wear is potentially ultra serious and normally a reason to stop wearing contacts anytime. I suspect your "eye doctor" is an optometrist and not an Eye MD ophthalmologist.  I would get in as soon as you can to an ophthalmologist to look at your situation and also determine if you can EVER wear contacts again.

[Rufaidahh]

I didn't know it could be that serious. From my research, I assumed it would eventually heal given enough time & not really have further complication (especially since the pain is gone & I'm no longer wearing lenses), but definitely going to book an appointment with an ophthalmologist as you say.

[JohnHaganMD]

Here is a link to a good article about bacterial keratitis and contact lens:  https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/bacterial-keratitis.html

[Rufaidahh]

Edit: After checking it he said it should take 10 days to heal, it's already been a week hence my worrying.