Corneal Disease

The cornea is the front windshield of the eye. It is responsible for a large portion of our vision. When the cornea is damaged from injury or disease it can cause decreased visual acuity or sometimes even blindness.

It is very important to wear protective eyewear in various activities to prevent corneal injury. Many chemicals and sharp objects can cause severe damage to the cornea.

Conditions of the Cornea

Sometimes a disease or degeneration affects the cornea. There are many different corneal diseases, including:

• Keratoconus (progressive thinning of the cornea)
• Fuch’s Dystrophy (progressive loss of endothelial cells)
• Bullous Keratopathy (small corneal blisters)
• Corneal scarring from injury or chemical burns
• Corneal ulcers

Some are due to bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. The aging process can also affect the cornea, and some corneal disease is inherited.

When the cornea becomes very damaged, a corneal transplant may be done to help restore some sight.

For more information on Corneal Transplants, click here. Also, click here to visit the American Academy of Opthalmology's Eye Smart website to learn more about various corneal diseases.

What To Expect At Your Corneal Evaluation:

A corneal evaluation will encompass everything that our comprehensive eye exam does plus several additional tests:

• Orbscan corneal scanning 
• Ultrasound pachymetry 
• Endothelial cell count

Please allow 90 to 120 minutes for this examination.

Call 816.746.9800 to schedule a corneal evaluation.