Did you know that the cornea filters out some of the sun's UV rays? The cornea is the clear tissue that covers the front of the eye. It is transparent to allow light to pass through to the inner part of the eye.
It comprises three primary layers: the epithelium, the outer layer; the stroma, the middle layer; and the endothelium, the inner layer. The cornea is curved and focuses the light rays that come through it. It is a tough and clear tissue that protects your eyes from foreign materials and is a barrier to infection.
Corneal disease refers to different conditions that affect the cornea. These include tissue breakdown, infections, inflammatory conditions, and other disorders that might be hereditary. The cornea can self-heal after minor infections, abrasions, or injuries. During the healing process, you might experience the following symptoms:
If you experience these symptoms, you should see your eye doctor immediately. Other serious eye issues can also cause these symptoms, so get your eye checked by a professional.
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea. It happens after the cornea has suffered from bacteria, infection, fungi, or viruses. These agents can get into the cornea due to an injury. Once they do, they can cause inflammation, ulcers, and infection. If your contact lenses cause damage to your eye, they can also cause keratitis. Keratitis may cause symptoms inclining:
The treatment for keratitis includes antibiotic or antifungal eye drops. In some cases, steroid eye drops and antiviral medication is necessary.
This condition is also referred to as ocular herpes. It is potentially a recurring viral infection caused by (HSV I) herpes simplex virus I. It is the same virus that causes cold sores. The sexually transmitted virus that causes genital herpes and herpes simplex virus II can also cause ocular herpes in rare cases.
Most individuals with HSV of the cornea have HSV I. The virus causes sores on the cornea, and the inflammation spreads into the eye over time. There is no known cure for ocular herpes. Treatment is through the management of the infection by oral and topical antiviral medication, and sometimes steroids.
You are only at risk for this condition if you had chickenpox earlier. The itchiness caused by the illness goes away, but the virus that causes it stays behind in your body. It remains inactive in your nerves for many years and can resurface later in life as shingles.
As you age, the virus can travel down nerves and infect your eyes. Lesinos caused by the shingles on your face can cause sores on your cornea. The sores will usually heal on their own. Your eye doctor might recommend steroid eyedrops or antiviral drugs to ease the inflammation.
If you have been sick with chickenpox, you can get shingles. The odds are higher for elderly people over 70 years old or people with a weak immune system.
For more on common types of cornea disease, visit Dr. Schultz at the Eye Center of Virginia at our office in Williamsburg, Virginia. You can call (757) 919-3500 to book an appointment today.