Cornea

Refraction

The cornea’s curved surface bends and focuses incoming light onto the lens and into the eye. Along with the lens, it accounts for approximately a third of the eye’s total focusing power.

Protection

As the outermost layer, the cornea helps shield the rest of the eye from dust, germs, and other potential irritants.

Filtering Light

The cornea filters out some ultraviolet wavelengths of light that could damage the inner eye. Its smooth, lubricated surface also blocks most bacteria from entering the eye.

To maintain transparency and refractive powers, the cornea must stay smooth and uniformly curved. Any distortion in its shape or clarity can result in visual disturbance or impairment.

Keratitis

This is inflammation of the cornea, usually caused by infection. Symptoms include eye pain, tearing, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and redness.

If left untreated, the infection can permanently scar the cornea, leading to impaired vision.

Corneal Dystrophies

Corneal dystrophies are mostly always genetic conditions. They can cause deposits to develop in the cornea over time.

This leads to increasing blurriness and impairment of vision. While dystrophies cannot be cured, surgical procedures like DSEK and DMEK can replace the affected corneal tissue and significantly improve vision.

Eye Injuries

The cornea is vulnerable to direct injury from foreign objects, contact lenses, chemicals, radiation, or trauma that impact the eye. Common eye injuries that can damage the cornea include:

Foreign Bodies

Tiny particles like sand, dirt, or metal shards that become embedded in the cornea. This causes pain and abrasion.

Chemical Burns

Splashes of strong acids or alkalis can burn the corneal surface, leading to scarring.

Blunt Trauma

A forceful blow to the eye from a ball, airbag, or other high-speed object. This can tear or rupture the cornea.

Any eye injury that affects the corneal layer can be extremely painful. More severe injuries threaten vision loss by damaging the cornea’s shape, surface, or clarity. 

Fast diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent infection, scarring, and other complications after an eye injury.

Corneal Abrasions

Scratches on the surface of the cornea from foreign objects, contact lenses, infections, or trauma. They cause eye pain and light sensitivity.

Corneal Ulcers

These open sores result from deeper injuries, infections, or poor healing of abrasions. They require prompt treatment to prevent scarring and vision loss.

Pterygium

A pinkish triangular tissue growth that starts on the white of the eye and slowly encroaches onto the cornea. It can disrupt vision and cause chronic irritation.

DSEK

DSEK stands for Eescemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty. During this procedure, the inner rear layer of the cornea is removed and replaced with healthy donor tissue.

DMEK

DMEK stands for Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty. Only the affected endothelium and Descemet’s membrane, which are layers of the cornea, are replaced with donor tissue through a tiny incision.

PKP

PKP is also called penetrating keratoplasty. During PKP, the entire central cornea is removed and replaced with full-thickness donor corneal tissue.

This full-thickness corneal transplant is done for severe disease or scarring when DSEK or DMEK are not enough to help the condition.

Pterygium Removal

During pterygium removal, the pterygium is surgically removed from the cornea and surrounding tissue. A conjunctival graft is often placed to prevent recurrence.