Cornea

The cornea is your eye's clear, protective outer layer, playing a crucial role in focusing your vision. Like a camera lens, it precisely directs light onto the retina, allowing you to see the world in sharp, clear detail. Its importance can't be overstated; it's essential for good vision, acting as your eye's first line of defense against dust, germs, and other harmful particles.

When problems arise with the cornea—be it from injury, infection, or disease—the effects on your sight can be significant. Issues like corneal abrasions, keratitis, or more complex conditions such as keratoconus distort the cornea's shape or clarity, leading to blurred vision, glare, and in severe cases, vision loss. Maintaining the health of your cornea is crucial for preserving the quality of your sight, highlighting the importance of regular eye check-ups and prompt treatment of any corneal conditions.
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Corneal Anatomy

The cornea is the clear outer layer of your eye that plays a crucial role in vision and protection. It shields your eyes from dirt, debris, and injury while also determining whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. Surgical procedures can reshape the cornea to improve vision clarity.

When you study the cornea closely, you discover that there are 5 layers:
  1. Epithelium (outermost layer): a barrier for foreign matter; also absorbs nutrients and oxygen from tears
  2. Bowman’s membrane (second layer): collagen fibers for corneal strength
  3. Stroma (middle layer): dense connective tissue providing elasticity and strength
  4. Decement’s membrane (inner layer): dense collagen tissue
  5. Endothelium (innermost layer): transports excess fluid out of the stroma
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Corneal Problems

If any of the layers of your cornea become damaged, you will experience vision problems. At Azul Vision, our team can diagnose these problems and provide treatment to save your vision.

Some of the most common conditions include:
  • Keratoconus, an eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge outward
  • Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye), a non-cancerous growth of tissue that covers all or part of the cornea
  • Corneal Dystrophies which can cause structural problems
  • Keratitis, an eye inflammation
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Corneal Transplants

A cornea transplant, also known as keratoplasty, can restore vision, alleviate pain, and improve the appearance of a damaged or diseased cornea. Typically performed as an outpatient procedure, this surgery offers significant benefits for those with corneal issues.
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While most cornea transplants are successful, there is a small risk of complications, including the possibility of donor cornea rejection. This procedure is most commonly used to restore vision in patients with damaged corneas but can also relieve pain and other symptoms related to corneal diseases.
  • ‍A cornea that bulges outward (keratoconus)
  • Thinning of the cornea
  • Cornea scarring, caused by infection or injury
  • Clouding of the cornea
  • Swelling of the cornea
  • Corneal ulcers, including those caused by infection
  • Complications caused by previous eye surgery
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Corneal Rejection

In some cases, your body's immune system may mistakenly attack the donor cornea. This is called rejection, which may require treatment or another cornea transplant. Rejection occurs in about 20 percent of cornea transplants. Put another way, for every 10 people receiving cornea transplants, two people can expect to experience rejection of the donor cornea.

Make an appointment with your eye doctor if you notice any signs and symptoms of rejection, such as:
  • Loss of vision
  • Pain
  • Redness
  • Sensitivity to light
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