Corneal Diseases

The cornea is the clear part on the front of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and anterior chamber of your eye. As light enters the eye, the cornea is responsible for focusing that light. It is often called “the window” of the eye as it both protects the eye from the environment and refracts light in order for us to see.

The cornea is made of very specialized tissue that is sensitive to touch, temperature and chemicals, while also being tough and resilient. When the cornea is damaged from disease or trauma, “the window” is no longer clearly able to focus light as it once did, resulting in impaired vision.

Corneal conditions can be inherited or acquired. Some common problems include:

• Corneal dystrophies – are a group of inherited corneal disorders that cause buildup of material on the corneal tissue. This results in progressive loss of vision. Learn more here.
• Keratoconus – the bulging of the cornea into a cone shape rather than its normal round shape, resulting in gradual distortion of vision. Learn more here.
• Corneal ulcer – inflammation of the cornea, also known as keratitis. There can be many causes of keratitis, often it is due to infection or injury. The treatment is dependent on the cause. Learn more here.
• Corneal trauma – Abrasion (scratches), erosion,  laceration, or foreign body in the corneal that can be extremely painful and can cause infection or vision loss if left untreated.
• Dry eye – when there is inadequate tear production, your cornea will not be well-lubricated, resulting in blurry vision and discomfort.