Cornea

The cornea is the clear tissue in front of the eye.  The purpose of the cornea is to protect the inner eye.  The curved shaped of the cornea functions in the same way as a camera lens by bending the light rays so that they land on the retina correctly so that you can see.  If the cornea is damaged or becomes weakened by injury or disease, you may need a cornea transplant. 

What conditions may cause the need for a cornea transplant procedure?

Trauma, infections or hereditary diseases can affect the quality of vision and the overall clarity of the cornea.  When your cornea is injured or infected by a disease, it may become swollen or scarred.  When this happens, the clarity of your cornea may be lost.  Scars, swelling or irregular shape can cause the cornea to scatter or distort light which will result in blurred vision.  The function of the endothelial cells is to pump fluid out of the cornea which keeps it crystal clear and thin. When many endothelial cells are injured or lost, the fluid that circulates inside the eyeball goes into the cornea, causing it to become cloudy and swollen. Once this occurs, medical treatments usually will not work, and a cornea transplant is recommended.   The cornea transplant replaces your damaged cornea with a healthy cornea that has been donated to an eye bank.  Once it is decided that surgery is the only option, your ophthalmologist will present you with your options and recommend the best cornea transplant procedure.

Corneal abrasions

A corneal abrasion is an injury usually caused from a scratch, scrape or cut.  You may experience such symptoms as feeling like you having something in the eye, pain and soreness, redness, light sensitivity, tearing or blurred vision.

Corneal abrasions can be treated by patching the eye to prevent blinking and further irritation; applying lubricated drops or ointment to the eye; using antibiotics to prevent infection; dilating the pupil to relieve pain or wearing a bandage contact lens to help healing. Minor abrasions will usually heal within a day or two, while larger abrasions may take up to a week.  In order to prevent corneal abrasions, always wear protective eyewear when working with tools, doing yard work and playing sports.  It is also very important to follow your ophthalmologist’s instructions on how to care for your contact lenses.

Corneal erosion

Corneal erosion is caused by a loosening to the underlying tissue of the surface layer of the cornea.  The erosion often occurs at the site of an earlier abrasion.  Erosion can often occur in dry eyes.  The symptoms of erosion are similar to those of abrasions and often occur upon waking up.  Treatment for corneal erosion is the same as for abrasions.  If symptoms of erosion persist, further treatment may be required.