---
title: "Fungal keratitis | Eye Health Guide"
description: "What fungal keratitis is, why contact lens wear and eye injury raise risk, and why this slow-growing corneal infection needs urgent specialist treatment."
url: https://eyehealthguide.org/conditions/fungal-keratitis/
source: Eye Health Guide
licence: "General information only. Cite the URL and the named medical reviewer."
---

Condition

# Fungal keratitis

Medical reviewer [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/mohamed-mohyudin/)· Last recorded site review July 6, 2026

### About this review

This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.

[How review works](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/) · [Official biography & credentials](https://mohamedmohyudin.co.uk/author/mohamed-mohyudin/)

Quick answer

Fungal keratitis is a corneal infection caused by fungi, often after eye injury or in contact lens wearers, especially with poor hygiene or water exposure. It causes a painful, red, slowly worsening eye with blurred vision. It is harder to treat than bacterial ulcers and needs urgent specialist care.

### On this page ⌄

1. Your next step
2. What it is
3. Common symptoms
4. Causes and risk factors
5. Treatment
6. Related conditions
7. Practical guides
8. Frequently asked questions

## What it is

Fungal keratitis is an infection of the clear cornea by fungi such as Fusarium or Aspergillus. It is less common than bacterial corneal ulcers but can be more difficult to treat and more likely to scar the cornea.

## Common symptoms

Symptoms often develop more slowly than bacterial ulcers but worsen over days.

- Painful red eye with blurred vision
- Light sensitivity and watering
- A white or grey spot on the cornea
- History of plant injury, contact lens wear or water exposure

## Causes and risk factors

Risk factors include eye injury from plant material, contact lens wear, especially sleeping in lenses or using tap water, and warm humid climates. Steroid drops without treating infection can make fungal ulcers worse.

## Treatment

Specialist diagnosis is needed, often with corneal samples. Treatment is with antifungal drops or tablets for weeks to months, and sometimes surgery. Delay increases scarring risk, so a painful contact-lens-related red eye that is not improving needs urgent assessment.

## Related conditions

## Practical guides

## Frequently asked questions

### Can contact lenses cause fungal eye infections?

Yes, especially with poor hygiene, sleeping in lenses or exposing lenses to tap water. A painful red eye that is slow to improve in a lens wearer needs urgent assessment.

### How is fungal keratitis different from a bacterial ulcer?

Fungal keratitis often develops more slowly and is harder to treat, needing antifungal medicines for a long time. Both are sight-threatening emergencies.

### Can fungal keratitis be cured?

Many cases can be treated successfully with early specialist care, but treatment is prolonged and scarring can affect vision. Prevention through safe lens wear and protecting eyes from plant injury is important.

Your next step

## Take this to your appointment

Write down what has changed, when it started, your current medicines and the questions you want answered. Take these to your eye-care appointment.

Sudden loss of sight, severe eye pain or a dark curtain across vision needs immediate assessment. Do not wait to complete a worksheet.

## Sources for this information

These references support the information on this page. Follow the linked source for its full context.

- [Microbial Keratitis - Moorfields Eye Hospital](https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/eye-conditions/microbial-keratitis)