Cornea
The cornea is the clear surface layer at the front of your eye. It focuses light into your eye so you can see clearly. As part of a comprehensive eye exam, your doctor will check for corneal conditions and diseases.
Corneal Conditions
Common conditions that affect the cornea include injuries such as scratches, allergies that can make your eyes red, itchy and watery, and keratitis, which is redness and swelling related to infections.
Dry eye is also a condition of the cornea. Read more about dry eye symptoms, diagnosis and treatment here.
Cornea Effects
Another important function of your cornea is that it provides approximately 65 to 75 percent of your eye’s focusing power. Most refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, can make it difficult for you to see clearly, but can be treated in a number of ways, from eyeglasses and contact lenses to laser surgery like LASIK and PRK.
Serious, irreversible vision problems can occur when the cornea becomes diseased or damaged.
Such conditions include:
- Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy
- Keratoconus
- Corneal Trauma
- Hereditary Corneal Dystrophies
Meet Cornea Specialist Dr. Sheehan and the Medical Eye Specialists Team
Corneal Disease & Surgery
In severe cases, a corneal transplant may help restore vision. At Medical Eye Specialists, we offer all of these surgical procedures, including full (PKP) and partial thickness corneal transplants (DMEK or DSAEK). When possible, we prefer utilizing DMEK in order to minimize risk and provide the best possible vision for our patients. During this procedure, the damaged part of your cornea is removed and replaced with corneal tissue from a donor.
If you have been diagnosed with corneal disease, Dr. Sheehan will work hand-in-hand with you in order to provide the best possible treatment plan and outcome. Schedule your appointment.