Corneal Disease​

Your cornea is the outermost layer covering the front of your eye. It protects the eye from germs, dust and other foreign particles, and it also serves as the outermost lens of the eye, helping to focus the entry of light inside the eye.

The term corneal disease refers to the variety of disorders that affect the cornea. Some common corneal diseases are:

• Bacterial, viral or fungal infections: Painful inflammation due to corneal infections, which can lead to corneal scarring in extreme cases. These may be caused due to exposure to contaminated lenses or damage to the cornea by a foreign object.
  

• Injury due to abrasions or exposure to foreign chemicals: The cornea may get injured due to scratching or scraping of the corneal surface, exposure to harmful chemical or fluids, problems with contact lenses, exposure to sand or grit, injuries due to ultraviolet light from the sun or sun lamps.
  

• Allergies: Burning, itching, tearing, and watery discharge from the eyes due to exposure to allergens.
  

• Degeneration of the cornea: Breakdown of the cornea due to genetic or environmental conditions, which affect vision
  

• Corneal dystrophies: Build-up of cloudy material in some parts of the cornea, affecting clarity of vision. These are not caused due to outside factors, such as injury or diet, but are mostly inherited.
  

• Conjunctivitis: Caused by a number of factors, such as bacterial or viral infection, allergy, environmental irritants or contact lens product, conjunctivitis is the disease of the ‘conjunctiva’, which is the protective membrane lining the eye lids and the exposed white parts of the eye. It can lead to swelling, redness and burning in the eyes.
  

• Refractive errors: Vision disorders, such as near-sightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, are the most common vision problems affecting the cornea. These can be corrected with the help of eye glasses or co​ntact lenses.

Besides these, the cornea can also be affected due to other eye conditions, such as dry eyes, glaucoma or eye lid disorders. 

When to seek expert advise

​​If you experience the symptoms described above, you must visit an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) working with the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Service Line at The Aga Khan University Hospital as these could be signs of a serious corneal disease. If left untreated, corneal disease can also affect your vision. The team of expert ophthalmologists at The Aga Khan University Hospital is internationally trained in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal disease. Discuss your symptoms and concerns at length to help your doctor reach an accurate diagnosis for your condition.​​

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