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Cornea

Your Eye’s First Line of Defense

Closeup of a Cornea

When your cornea is damaged by infection, injury or disease, incoming light can be blocked or distorted, affecting your ability to focus.

Experiencing symptoms of a damaged cornea? Make a Sabates appointment today.

Symptoms that you may have a corneal issue that needs to be addressed:

  • Blurred vision
  • Eye pain or stinging and burning
  • Consistent sensation of a foreign object in your eye
  • Light sensitivity
  • Redness of the eye
  • Swollen eyelids
  • Increased tear production
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Corneal abrasions: Caused by trauma to the eyeball, abrasions tend to heal quickly but can require antibiotics, steroids or other drugs to treat pain and light sensitivity.

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Corneal dystrophy: A genetic, sometimes progressive disorder in which abnormal material accumulates in the cornea. Some dystrophies are asymptomatic, while other cases may require medication, laser therapy or even a corneal transplant.

Corneal ulcer: An open sore on the cornea caused by an infection, most common in contact lens wearers. Most corneal ulcers can be treated with topical antibiotics.

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Keratoconus: A gradual thinning of the cornea’s round dome structure, causing a conelike protrusion and blurred vision, usually in younger patients. Special contact lenses may fix the issue, but a corneal transplant may be required in severe cases.

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Pterygium: A noncancerous growth usually found on the inner or outer corners of the eye. When a pterygium becomes red and irritated, eye drops or ointments may be used to help reduce the inflammation. If it’s large enough to threaten your vision, it can be removed surgically.

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If your cornea is badly damaged, you may be a candidate for a transplant. 

Cornea transplant surgery, also known as corneal grafting, involves replacing a damaged or diseased cornea with donated corneal tissue, either partially or entirely.

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The majority of cornea transplants result in significant improvement in visual function for many years or a lifetime. In cases of rejection or transplant failure, the surgery can generally be repeated.

Cornea Doctor