The cornea is a clear layer that covers the front of the eye. It helps the eye focus and keeps out germs and dust. Corneal diseases include infections, degeneration of the cornea and inherited conditions.
Herpes Keratitis
Herpes keratitis is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus, best known for causing cold sores. Herpes keratitis usually affects only one eye and most often occurs on the cornea--the normally clear dome that covers the front part of the eye. The symptoms of herpes keratitis may include: pain;...
Corneal Abrasion/Erosion
Corneal Abrasion The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. It covers the iris (the colored portion of the eye) and the round pupil. The cornea is composed of five layers. The outermost layer is called the epithelium. Injuries to the epithelium, such as scratches, cuts, or scrapes, are known as corneal abrasions....
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is an uncommon condition in which the dome-shaped cornea (the clear front window of the eye) becomes thin and develops a cone-like bulge. As the condition progresses, the shape of the cornea is altered, distorting your vision. Usually, keratoconus affects both eyes, although symptoms and progression in each eye may differ. Early symptoms include...
Lid Margin Disease
Lid margin disease is a common and frequently chronic inflammation of the eyelids. Symptoms include irritation, itching, and, occasionally, a red eye. This condition frequently occurs in people who tend to have oily skin, dandruff, or dry eyes. Bacteria normally reside on the skin, but in some people, they thrive in the skin at the...
Pterygium/Pingueculum
PTERYGIUM A pterygium is a mass of fleshy tissue that grows over the cornea (the clear front window of the eye). It may remain small or may grow large enough to interfere with vision. A pterygium most commonly occurs on the inner corner of the eye, but it can appear on the outer corner as...
Recurrent Corneal Erosion
The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. It covers the iris (the colored portion of the eye) and the round pupil. The cornea is composed of five layers. The outermost layer is the epithelium. When the epithelium does not adhere correctly to the corneal tissue below, this can cause a condition called...
Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy
Fuchs dystrophy is a progressive disease that affects the cornea, the clear dome that covers the iris (the colored part of the eye) and helps focus light as it enters the eye. With this disease, cells in the cornea's inner layer, called the endothelium, are reduced in number. This causes the remaining cells to swell...
Dry Eyes
Your eyes constantly produce tears at a slow and steady rate so that they stay moist and comfortable. Some people are not able to produce enough tears or the appropriate quality of tears to keep their eyes healthy or comfortable. This condition is known as dry eye. Symptoms of dry eye include scratchiness, stinging, stringy...
Conjunctivitis
“Pink eye,” the common name for conjunctivitis, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the outer, normally clear covering of the sclera (the white part of the eye). The eye appears pink when you have conjunctivitis because the blood vessels of the conjunctiva are dilated. Pink eye is often accompanied by...