Cornea is the outer covering of the eyeball. Protecting structures within the eye is the primary purpose of this coat. In addition to acting as a structural barrier, the cornea also protects the eye from infection. Combined with the tear film, it provides a proper anterior refractive surface for the eye. The cornea contributes two-thirds of the eye's refractive power.
Corneal ulcers are a type of inflammation of the cornea. The most common causes of corneal ulcers are eye injury, dirty contact lenses, exposure to viruses or dirty water. They are typically caused by infection, but can also be caused by injury.
Common symptoms of corneal ulcer are:
The treatment for corneal ulcers depends on the cause of the infection. The use of antibacterial and antifungal eye drops can treat diseases caused by bacteria or fungi. You can use eye drops that contain antiviral properties for ulcers caused by viruses. Although these treatments do not cure the virus, it may return in the future. Corneal ulcer can be caused due to bacteria, fungi or viruses. Once diagnosed, a specimen of the ulcer is taken and examined by the microbiologist to know the organism involved. Thus, once the organism is known, treating accordingly gives fast recovery in early stages. If not treated early, infection may spread inside the eye as well further leading to visual loss. Hence, such diseases must be treated as early as possible. Viral keratitis, once treated, never heals completely. If not taken care of, it may occur again.
The picture shows the corneal ulcer with a positive fluorescein stain. Mostly done to confirm the diagnosis of corneal ulcer. (greenish yellow part stained due to loss of first layer of cornea in that area)
With immediate treatment, most ulcers can be treated without vision loss. But if the infection is left untreated or is too severe, ulcers can permanently harm your eyes.
Keratoconus occurs when the eye's surface bulges out in a cone shape. It is caused by a decrease in the thickness of the eye's cornea (front layer). A bulge may appear mild at first, but it can worsen over time. In most cases, both eyes are affected. Indians with keratoconus account for about one out of every 2000 cases. The condition typically occurs among teens and young adults in their mid-teens and early twenties after rubbing their eyes frequently.
Many keratoconus patients are unaware they have the disease. The earliest symptom is a slight blurring of vision or progressively poor vision that is not easily corrected. Most of the patients get undiagnosed due to lack of awareness regarding the same. If the spectacle power keeps increasing and corneal thickness is low, then one must get a corneal topography test to rule out keratoconus. Apart from gradual decrease in vision, patients may not have any symptoms. Whereas, in late stages following symptoms can be noted:
Glare and halos around lights
Difficulty seeing at night
Eye irritation or headaches associated with eye pain
Increased sensitivity to bright light
Sudden worsening or clouding of vision
MS-39 is the most advanced device for the analysis of the anterior segment of the eye. MS-39 combines Placido disk corneal topography, with high resolution OCT-based anterior segment tomography.
Spectacles can be worn to correct vision in the early stages. Later on, you will need ROSE K Contact Lenses that is individually fitted. Lenses like these provide better vision. You may, however, be more sensitive to glare and light. Lenses that fit well can be difficult to find, but they must be comfortable to wear. The cornea can be further damaged by poorly fitting lenses.
Cross-linking the cornea (also called C3-R) is another option. There is no need for invasive surgery with this new treatment. It increases the cornea's strength. The bulge may not be fixed, but it can be stopped from getting worse.
Latest treatment for keratoconus is topo-guided C3R. Under this treatment, the cone shaped cornea is smoothened with the help of excimer laser and then C3R (collagen crosslinking) is done to strengthen the cornea. This procedure not only stops bulges from growing but also provides functional vision.
A pterygium is a growth of the conjunctiva or mucous membrane that covers the white part of your eye over the cornea. The cornea is the clear front covering of the eye. This benign or noncancerous growth is often shaped like a wedge. A pterygium usually doesn’t cause problems or require treatment, but it can be removed if it interferes with your vision.
A pterygium doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, the symptoms are usually mild. Common symptoms include redness, blurred vision, and eye irritation. You might also feel a burning sensation or itchiness. If a pterygium grows large enough to cover your cornea, it can interfere with your vision. Thick or larger pterygium can also cause you to feel like you have a foreign object in your eye. You might not be able to continue wearing contact lenses when you have a pterygium due to discomfort.
Cornea transplantation is a surgery used to replace a damaged cornea with a healthy, donated one. Some surgeries remove the entire cornea, while others only remove a few parts. The surgery is used to treat a few different corneal diseases. It is often the best way to treat infection and save sight.
The results will depend on what damaged your cornea. Most people will have at least some vision improvement. It is important that you come for follow-ups to make sure that your eye is healing properly. In most cases, the surgery is very successful.
One must get a corneal transplant if the cornea may be severely damaged by: