Vision is the ability to interpret the environment surrounding you using the light being reflected by the objects around you. The part that is responsible for focusing on vision is the cornea. There are no blood vessels in that part of the eye; therefore nourishment comes directly from the tears and the aqueous humor. Despite the fact that most of us are born with perfect vision, with time it might start to fail. But worry not because you can get help at Huntingdon Valley Cornea when this starts to happen.
Causes for Vision Failure:
· Eye trauma
· Clouding of the lens
· Retinal damage due to diabetes
· Retinal detachment
· Strokes in severe cases
Symptoms of Corneal Conditions:
The cornea has the natural ability to heal itself quickly. But in some cases, the problems might persist and that is when you should be concerned. Some of the symptoms include:
· Persistent pain in the eyes
· Blurred vision
· Sensitivity to light
· Frequent and random tearing
· Excessive redness of the eye
· Scarring in the Cornea
Corneal Disorders
The cornea is the clear layer that is in front of the iris and pupil. The cornea looks fragile, but that is not the case because it is as tough as a fingernail. The cornea is mainly composed of cells, protein, and some fluid. Below are some of the disorders/conditions that affect the cornea:
· Corneal Ulcer
This is an eye infection that causes an open sore in the cornea leading to a full-out infection in the whole cornea, rendering it damaged.
· Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis
It is a very serious disorder involving inflammation and ulceration of the cornea. It often occurs in people who are having connective tissue disorders.
· Keratoconus
This is a condition that is experienced as the Cornea gradually changes shape causing it to become irregular and cone-shaped. This, in turn, worsens the vision.
· Keratomalacia
This is an eye disorder that involves the dying and clouding of the cornea. This is a result of the deficiency of vitamin A.
· Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
This is a disorder that causes dryness of the membrane that lines the eyelids (conjunctiva), and, in turn, causes dryness of the cornea.
· Bullous Keratopathy
A disorder that involves the cornea having a swell that looks like a blister. The blisters are filled with fluid.
What Are The Treatment Options For Corneal Conditions?
Many conditions that affect the Cornea are treatable just by a doctor’s normal prescriptions, and all this can be found at Suburban Eye Associates. At the clinic, you will be provided with a variety of pills and eye drops. In advance cases you might be provided with the following options:
· Laser Treatment
This is a type of treatment plan that uses lasers and is known as phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). It is used in most cases to reshape or give shape to the cornea. In the case of scar tissues, it is used to remove the scarred tissue, which in turn helps improve the vision.
· Corneal Transplant Surgery
If the damage to the Cornea is unrepairable, the damaged part can be removed and replaced with healthy cornea tissue from a donor. This is the most common type of transplant surgery.
· Artificial Cornea
This is considered as an alternative to transplant. A damaged cornea is replaced with an artificial cornea known as a keratoprosthesis (KPro).
If faced with any corneal condition, it is never too early to contact us or visit our clinic at 821 Huntingdon Pike Suite 200 and let us take care of your vision.
