Diseases and Disorders of the Cornea
The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, playing a crucial role in focusing vision by refracting light as it enters the eye. Corneal diseases and disorders can significantly impact vision and quality of life. At Doctor Eye Institute, we specialize in diagnosing and treating a variety of corneal conditions to help patients regain clear vision and comfort.
Corneal Ulcer
1. Damage caused to the cornea due to injury i.e foreign body penetrating the corneal tissue , Vegetative matter like leaf , injury during welding ,organism entering through contaminated contact lens or lens solution .
Symptoms : Pain, discharge ,Decrease in the vision
2. Infection may be bacterial, fungal, parasitic
3. Treatment
- Antibiotic or antifungal eye drops
- Frequent visits to an eye care professional till the cornea heals
- Corneal Transplant in refractory cases
Infective Conjunctivitis (PINK EYE)
This term describes a group of diseases that cause swelling, itching, burning, and redness of the conjunctiva, the protective membrane that lines the eyelids and covers exposed areas of the sclera, or white of the eye.
At its onset, conjunctivitis is usually painless and does not adversely affect vision. The infection will clear in most cases without requiring medical care. If treatment is delayed, the infection may worsen and cause corneal inflammation and a decrease in vision.
- Infective- Bacterial, Viral, Contact lens induced, Environmental Irritants
- Non Infective-Allergic
Symptoms:Â swelling, itching, burning and redness of the conjunctiva.
- Can be bacterial or viral
- Spreads from one person to the other
- Acute- less than 4 weeks -Subacute & chronic-more than 4 weeks
- Requires antibiotic drops, lubricating drops, cold water compresses
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Allergies – Allergies affecting the eye are fairly common.
Common in children
The most common allergies are those related to pollen, particularly when the weather is warm and dry.
Symptoms can include redness, itching, tearing, burning, stinging, and watery discharge, although they are not usually severe enough to require medical attention Environmental change in weather helps the symptoms such as rain and cooler weather, which decreases the amount of pollen in the air.
- Cold water compresses
- Antihistamine decongestant, Mast cell stabilizer eyedrops can effectively reduce these symptoms
- Low potent steroids
An increasing number of eye allergy cases are related to medications and contact lens wear. Also, animal hair and certain cosmetics, such as mascara, face creams, and eyebrow pencil, can cause allergies that affect the eye. Touching or rubbing eyes after handling nail polish, soaps, or chemicals may cause an allergic reaction.
Allergy symptoms are temporary and can eliminated by not having contact with the offending agent.
Corneal Dystrophies
A corneal dystrophy is a condition in which one or more parts of the cornea lose their normal clarity due to a build up of cloudy material. There are over 20 corneal dystrophies that affect all parts of the cornea.
Fuchs' Dystrophy
Fuchs’ Dystrophy is a degenerative disease where the endothelial cells in the inner layer of the cornea gradually die off. This leads to fluid build-up in the cornea, causing swelling, cloudiness, and vision problems, especially in the morning. it is a common occurrenceÂ
These diseases share many traits
- They are usually inherited.
- They affect the right and left eyes equally.
- They are not caused by outside factors, such as injury or diet.
- Most progress gradually.
- Most usually begin in one of the five corneal layers and may later spread to nearby layers.
Symptoms
Some cause severe visual impairment, while a few cause no vision problems and are discovered during a routine eye examination. Some of the most common corneal dystrophies include Fuchs’ dystrophy, keratoconus, lattice dystrophy, and map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy.
Treatment
Asymptomatic dystrophies need no treatment Corneal transplant for vision in symptomatic patients.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Common symptoms of corneal diseases include:
Blurred vision
Eye pain
Redness
Sensitivity to light
Excessive tearing
Advanced Technologies and Techniques
At Doctor Eye Institute, we employ the latest technologies and techniques to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. Our advanced diagnostic equipment allows for precise assessment of corneal conditions, and our surgeons are skilled in the latest surgical techniques, providing patients with state-of-the-art care.