Cornea Eye Disease
Quite a few diseases affect the cornea, which is the clear outer covering of the eyes. Cornea eye disease can be painful and itchy and may cause swelling, scarring or even loss of vision. Some of the diseases that involve the cornea are minor and treatable, while others are progressive. If you experience any of the symptoms associated with cornea eye disease, make an appointment with your optometrist right away to get a diagnosis and the proper treatment. Everyone should have a regular annual eye examination by a developmental optometrist to monitor their ocular health and acuity and to rule out and treat binocular vision disorders.
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Function
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The eyes are complex structures that gather visual information. Once the brain processes the visual information, you make a visual-motor response monitored by the brain. Both eyes are covered by a transparent cornea which protects the inner parts of the eye. It also works like a lens to admit light. According to the National Eye Institute, the cornea functions as a "filter" to keep ultra violet rays from entering the eye. Tears keep the cornea moist and healthy. Cornea eye diseases can threaten a person's vision in addition to being painful, itchy and annoying.
Allergies, Viruses and Infections
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Allergies, viruses and infections can affect the cornea, making it reddish, itchy or painful. While the symptoms may be similar, the treatments for these conditions differ so if you experience them, see your optometrist. Only an eye doctor can diagnose what your problem is and whether you need to treat the symptoms, as with an allergy, or the cause.
Infections like keratitis and conjunctivitis can have a bacterial, fungal, or viral cause. You may need a prescription for an antibiotic, an anti-fungal medication or a steroid. Untreated eye infections can lead to scars on the cornea and to impaired vision. There is even a very severe corneal disease which is thought to be caused by an allergic reaction to a medicine. It is called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and involves blisters on the cornea that may actually leave a tear or a hole in the tissue resulting in a loss of vision.
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Ocular Herpes and Dry Eyes
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Ocular herpes is a viral condition that can affect the cornea. It starts with sores that develop on the eyelids and can increase with swelling and pain on the cornea. Dry Eyes is the result of changes in the production of tears and makes the eyes uncomfortable and itchy. It can cause blurred vision and other problems. Both conditions need to be monitored and treated topically.
Corneal Dystrophy
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There are several different corneal dystrophy diseases including: Fuchs Dystrophy, Karatoconus, Lattice Dystrophy and Map-dot-fingerprint Dystrophy. They are all progressive binocular diseases. They cause blurry vision, pain, swelling and sometimes blisters. People with corneal dystrophy may find that the cornea "clouds" up and is less transparent than it needs to be for good vision. Sometimes the best treatment for corneal dystrophy is a cornea transplant.
Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome
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Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome is a very serious cornea eye disease. It has three main symptoms: visible changes to the iris occur, the cornea swells, and the person develops glaucoma. It is treated with a prescription for glaucoma medicine and often requires a cornea transplant operation.
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