Facts About the Cornea and Corneal Disease

You might not think twice about your corneas on an everyday basis, but they’re a big part of the reason you can see. It’s important to keep them healthy, but corneal disorders can still happen and can seriously affect your vision. Here are a few important facts about the cornea and how you can prevent corneal disease.

Anatomy of the Cornea

The cornea is the transparent front part of your eye that is responsible for many aspects of your vision. It’s made up of layers including the epithelium, the endothelium, the stroma, and the Bowman’s membrane. The cornea and lens protect the rest of your eye and can focus and control the amount of light that your eye takes in.

Types of Corneal Disease

Here are a few common types of corneal diseases that can affect the cornea:

• Keratoconus: This is a disorder in which the cornea becomes misshapen, bulging outward and becoming cone-shaped. The cornea also thins, affecting vision.
• Dry eyes: A condition in which the eye does not produce enough tears to keep itself lubricated.
• Keratitis: An inflammation of the cornea, most often caused by contact lenses or infection.
• Corneal dystrophy: An eye disorder in which material builds up in the cornea, affecting vision.

Preventing Corneal Disease

The best way to prevent corneal disease is to make regular visits to eye care professionals in order to make sure your corneas are healthy. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to clean them properly and never wear them to bed in order to avoid infection. Also, if you notice any abnormalities in your vision, visit an eye doctor right away to treat the problem before it becomes severe.

If you’d like to make an appointment with an eye doctor, Seema Eye Care can help. For quality eye care you can count on, call our office at 403-253-5300 today!