The cornea is the clear front window of the eye that focuses light so you can see clearly. At Texan Eye in Austin, our eye doctors have the experience and expertise to ensure you experience clear, comfortable vision for years to come.
What is the Cornea?
The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye. It plays a crucial role in your vision by focusing light into your eye so you can see clearly.
Think of the cornea as a window that covers the front of your eye. The cornea has five layers:
Epithelium: The outermost layer that blocks foreign material like dust and germs
Bowman’s layer: A tough layer that protects the corneal stroma
Stroma: The thickest layer that gives the cornea its strength and elasticity
Descemet’s membrane: A thin but strong inner layer that protects against infection and injuries
Endothelium: The innermost layer that pumps excess fluid out of the stroma
Together, these layers work to keep your cornea crystal clear so light can enter your eye properly. The cornea also acts as a filter, screening out some of the sun’s ultraviolet light.
Without a clear, healthy cornea, your vision would be blurry or distorted.
What Conditions Can Affect the Cornea?
There are several conditions that can affect the health and clarity of your cornea:
Keratitis
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea often caused by an infection. Symptoms of keratitis can include eye redness, pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing.
Treatment depends on the cause but may include antibiotics or antifungal medications.
Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion is a scratch or scrape on the surface of your cornea. It’s commonly caused by getting sand, dust, or other foreign material in your eye.
Most corneal abrasions heal on their own within a day or two. An eye patch or antibiotic eye drops may be used to help it heal.
Corneal Ulcer
A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea usually caused by an infection. It often occurs in people who wear contact lenses.
Symptoms include severe pain, pus or discharge, blurred vision, redness, and light sensitivity. Corneal ulcers are serious and can lead to vision loss if untreated.
Treatment for corneal ulcers typically involves antibiotics and pain medications.
Corneal Dystrophy
Corneal dystrophies are a group of genetic eye disorders that cause the cornea to become cloudy. There are over twenty types of corneal dystrophies, each affecting different parts of the cornea.
Symptoms and treatment vary depending on the specific type.
Dry Eye
Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to your eyes feeling dry, scratchy, and irritated.
Severe dry eye can make the cornea more susceptible to abrasions or ulcers. Treatment for dry eye depends on the underlying cause but often includes artificial tears, prescription eye drops, warm compresses, or tear duct plugs.
Managing dry eye is important not only for your comfort but also for maintaining the clarity and health of your cornea. At Texan Eye, we can perform a comprehensive dry eye assessment and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a corneal condition, it is important to seek treatment right away. Delaying diagnosis and treatment may cause the condition to worsen.
Early detection of corneal conditions can help improve your vision and prevent progression.
What is Keratoconus?
Keratoconus is an eye condition in which the normally round cornea thins and bulges outward into a cone shape. This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye, causing distorted vision.
Keratoconus usually starts in the teenage years and can worsen over time. In the early stages, vision can be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses.
As it progresses, special hard contact lenses or scleral lenses may be needed to improve vision. In advanced cases, a corneal transplant may be necessary.
While the exact cause is unknown, risk factors for keratoconus include:
- Family history of keratoconus
- Chronic eye rubbing
- Certain disorders like Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta
At Texan Eye, we use state-of-the-art corneal mapping technology to diagnose even the earliest signs of keratoconus. This allows us to begin treatment sooner to slow the progression of this condition.
What is Corneal Cross-Linking?
Corneal cross-linking is a minimally invasive treatment that can halt the progression of keratoconus and other corneal ectasias, which are conditions that cause similar corneal thinning and bulging. In this procedure, eye drops containing riboflavin (vitamin B2) are applied to the cornea.
The cornea is then exposed to a controlled amount of ultraviolet light. This triggers collagen fibers within the cornea to link together and become stiffer, stabilizing the cornea’s shape and thickness.
Benefits of Corneal cross-linking include:
- Stops or slows progression of keratoconus or corneal ectasia
- Prevents need for corneal transplant in most patients
- Quick recovery, with most patients returning to normal activities within a few days
What is a Corneal Transplant?
A corneal transplant, also called keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace part or all of a damaged cornea with healthy donor corneal tissue.
Common reasons for needing a corneal transplant include:
- Advanced keratoconus
- Corneal scarring from injury or infection
- Corneal swelling or cloudiness from Fuchs’ dystrophy
- Complications from prior eye surgery
There are a few different corneal transplant techniques. The type used depends on how much of the cornea needs to be replaced.
At Texan Eye, our experienced corneal surgeons utilize the latest transplantation techniques to restore clear vision in patients with severe corneal conditions. With proper care, corneal transplants have a high success rate and can last for many years.
If you have any concerns about your corneal health, our knowledgeable eye care professionals are here to help. Schedule an appointment at Texan Eye in Austin, TX, today for a comprehensive evaluation of your corneal health and visual needs.
