Corneal disease
- Article
- 2021-01-31
The cornea is the clear, outermost layer on the front of the eye. The cornea helps your eye focus the light so you can see clearly. There are several common conditions that affect the cornea . Injuries . Small abrasions (scratches) on the cornea usually heal on their own. Deeper scratches or other injuries can scar the cornea and cause vision problems. Allergies . Allergies to pollen can irritate the eyes and cause allergic conjunctivitis (pink eye). This can make your eyes red, itchy, and watery. Keratitis . Keratitis is inflammation (redness and swelling) of the cornea. Infections related to contact lenses are the most common cause of keratitis. Dry eyes . Dry eyes occur when your eyes don't tear enough to stay wet. This can be uncomfortable and can cause vision problems. Corneal dystrophies . Corneal dystrophies cause blurred vision when material builds up on the cornea. These illnesses usually run in families. There are also a number of less common diseases that can affect the cornea, including ocular herpes, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, iridocorneal endothelial syndrome, and pterygium. Go to the eye doctor or the emergency room if you: Some corneal disorders, such as corneal dystrophies, run in families. But there are steps you can take to lower your risk of corneal injury and infections. To avoid corneal injury , wear safety glasses when you: If you wear contact lenses, always follow the instructions to clean, disinfect and store your lenses. This can help prevent corneal infections such as keratitis. Ophthalmologists can check for corneal disease as part of a comprehensive eye exam . The exam is simple and painless. To check for corneal abrasions (scratches), your eye doctor may use a special type of eye drop called fluorescein dye. The dye makes abrasions on the cornea easier to see. Many corneal conditions can be treated with prescription eye drops or pills. If you have advanced corneal disease, you may need different treatment. Laser treatment. To treat some corneal dystrophies and other conditions, doctors may use a type of laser treatment called phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) to reshape the cornea, remove scar tissue, and make vision clearer. Cornea transplant. If the damage to your cornea cannot be repaired, doctors can remove the damaged portion and replace it with healthy corneal tissue from a donor. Artificial cornea . As an alternative to corneal transplantation, doctors can replace a damaged cornea with an artificial cornea called a keratoprosthesis (KPro). What are the main types of corneal disease?
When to get help right away
Am I at risk for corneal disease?
Do you feel like there is something in your eye?
How does my eye doctor check for corneal disease?
What is the treatment for corneal disorders?
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