Corneal disease can be a painful condition and needs the right care for effective healing. Learn more about the reasons why your cornea might be damaged and the treatment plans that can guarantee you full recovery.
The protective outer layer of the eye is known as the cornea. This part works alongside the sclera and helps keep a barrier between any germs that may enter your eye and damage it. Cornea can also aid in partially blocking the ultraviolet light of the sun in order to protect the eyes.
The cornea functions by bending, or refracting, the light that enters your eye and results in your eyes focusing on objects that are close-up or at a distance. In the case that your cornea gets damaged due to injury or infection, your vision will be hampered due to the scarring. Corneal disease can be caused by multiple conditions that affect your eyes including tissue breakdowns, infections, and hereditary disorders. If you might be experiencing discomfort and pain in your eyes, it is important to see an expert ophthalmologist who can provide you with the correct diagnosis and treatment plan.
If the cornea does experience scarring, it is likely that for it to heal on its own, but you may experience pain, blurred vision, redness and tearing during the healing process. Such symptoms can also occur with different types of eye ailments, so it is important to see a doctor before forming a conclusion.
There are a number of conditions that can lead to corneal damage. Some of causes for corneal disease are:
• Keratitis: Inflammation caused by bacteria or viruses coming into contact with the cornea. Eye injuries caused by contact lenses may lead to keratitis.
• Ocular Herpes: This condition may cause sores to form on the cornea and damage it.
• Keratoconus: This condition causes your cornea to thin resulting in its shape being changed and may lead to refractive errors.
• Corneal Dystrophies: There are multiple types of corneal dystrophies which can cause structural problems in the cornea.
• Trauma or Injury
• Foreign objects entering the eye such as dirt, sand, sawdust and chemicals
• Poor post-operative care
Damage to the cornea can easily be treated through the use of medication. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe you antibiotic drops or ointment to combat infection and medicated drops to help with inflammation to counteract pain that is controllable but inevitable. Doctors may also ask you to wear an eye patch during the healing process if the damage is extensive so that light does not cause sensitivity and to help with healing and pain. Corneal damage usually takes a few days to heal but if the condition is severe, it can result in a longer healing period.
It is important to avoid rubbing your eye and not wear contact lenses during this time as it may worsen your condition. If the corneal damage is far more severe and cannot be treated at home, your physician may present you with treatment plans that include laser surgeries such as phototherapeutic keratectomy. In the case that your cornea cannot be repaired due to excessive damage, doctors may even recommend corneal transplant surgery so that the damaged cornea can be replaced with healthy tissue.
American Hospital prides itself for having one of best team of eye specialists in Dubai who are experienced in diagnosing and treating a wide spectrum of eye ailments. If you are suffering from corneal damage and would like to opt for our expert eye care services, you can book an appointment with one of our Ophthalmologists by using the booking form provided on our website. By choosing American hospital, we can guarantee that you will be given the best eyecare services in Dubai and your medical needs will surely be satisfied.
