Caring for the cornea

The eyes are intricate parts of the body, including several working parts that all comingle to produce clear, sharp vision. If any part of the eye becomes damaged, vision can be impacted, sometimes permanently. In our Laguna Hills eye correction practice, every part of the eye is carefully examined and followed, allowing each patient the opportunity for prolonged optimal vision.

One area of the eye that may be impacted by a variety of factors is the cornea. This outermost, dome-shaped layer of the eye serves as a protective barrier to other areas, and helps the eye focus at various distances by refracting, or bending, light as it enters the eye. Should the cornea become damaged or injured from trauma, degeneration, or infection, we would term this “corneal disease.”

Due to its prominent location in the eye, the cornea may experience slight injuries periodically, most of which will heal very quickly. You may have experienced one or more of these symptoms after a mild corneal injury:

Discomfort
Watery eyes
Redness
Blurry vision
Intense sensitivity to light

While these symptoms do not necessarily signal a greater problem than a mild injury, it is important to seek a thorough examination in our Laguna Hills eye correction practice should any such symptoms persist for more than a few days.

There is no way to protect the cornea completely from disease, especially when there are hereditary factors involved. In such instances where there is a family history of corneal disease, the best course of action is to receive regular eye examinations. In maintaining this habit, early detection is possible, and vision may be preserved through early intervention.

Keeping the cornea safe from infection and injury is possible through careful lifestyle practices. Those who wear contact lenses can protect their eye health by following hygiene guidelines related to both lenses and cleaning solution. We can all protect our eyes by keeping our distance from a person who has a contagious condition, such as conjunctivitis, or pink eye. Should you be exposed to a person who has a contagious condition, thoroughly washing hands with soap and water helps to remove contagions. In addition, makeup, eye drops, or cleaning solutions should not be shared.

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(949) 441-5444

Should the cornea become diseased, Dr. Salib will recommend treatment based on the specifics of your condition. Today, corneal transplants are one way to correct a degenerated or otherwise damaged cornea, with the number of transplants reaching almost 50,000 in 2011. With a success rate of approximately 95%, corneal transplant offers a viable solution for the preservation of vision.