What Is the Cornea?

Your cornea is the clear multi-layered tissue that covers your iris and pupil. It is one of the most critical parts of your eyes, and as the part that directly faces the world, it is exposed to dangers. The cornea is what allows light to enter your eye, and many of the refractive light issues a person may have with their vision, such as near and farsightedness, are caused by the shape of the cornea.

Because the cornea sits at the front of the eye and plays such a prominent role in your ability to focus, any damage it sustains can significantly affect your vision. There are a number of common corneal conditions, including corneal abrasions.

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Cornea Abrasion

Corneal Abrasions happen when the thin, outer layer of the cornea gets scratched. This can happen from a foreign object in the eye or even a scratch from a fingernail. Symptoms include blurry vision, water eyes, feeling like there is something in the eye and sensitivity to light. At Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers we can easily diagnose the condition. Treatment may include a topical pain relief. The eye will need to be bandaged and sealed from light at least overnight for a small abrasion, or longer for larger ones.

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Corneal Disease

In addition to outside threats, the cornea is susceptible to diseases including degenerative ones like keratoconus which can lead to deformation of the cornea. If you suspect you’ve been having new vision problems, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a qualified ophthalmologist at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers. If there is a corneal disease, there are a variety of treatments available.

The cornea is one of the most critical parts of your eye. Covering your iris and pupil is the leading cause of vision issues from refractive light due to the shape of the cornea. These include how we focus our sight and whether we can see near or far. The cornea is also highly susceptible to damage as it is very exposed. The cornea is also predisposed to certain diseases that can have a serious impact on a person’s vision.

That is why it is so critical to have a quality ophthalmologist to help guide you in dealing with any corneal issues. These can be as simple as a small scratch, all the way to corneal transplants.

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Corneal Conditions and Treatment

  • Scratched Cornea: Caused by distress or damage to the cornea of the eye, this may lead to feeling like there is a foreign object in the eye, a burning sensation or even double vision and blurring. Treatment could include pain relief, and generally requires the eye to be bandaged tightly for a period of time based on the size of the scratch.
  • Corneal Diseases: These range from degenerative conditions to small infections. These can be quite serious, or become so, and because the cornea is such an integral part of vision it is important to seek fast treatment if you suspect you have a corneal disease.
  • Keratoconus: Often referred to as “KC,” keratoconus is a non-inflammatory eye condition in which the typically round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins and weakens, causing the development of a cone-like bulge and optical irregularity of the cornea. This causes “static” in your vision and can result in significant visual impairment. Corneal cross-linking is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to slow or halt the progression of keratoconus.