The human eye plays an extremely critical role in visualizing every moment of life. It helps you perceive the world by visualizing a situation or an event to draw a conclusive fall on it. It is a very fragile organ and needs proper care. Eye diseases and injuries can be from anything, either from minor allergies or grave issues threatening the vision. Imagine losing your eyesight due to an eye condition such as corneal injury? Let's take a look at the powers the Cornea of the human eye possesses, and how it helps you envision an object, you can mentally construct and make sense of.
What is Cornea?
The Cornea is a clear outer layer of the eye that permits light to pass, through the pupil, lens, onto the retina at the back of the eye. The three major corneal layers are:
- The outer layer or epithelial layer
- The middle layer termed as stroma
- Finally, a single layer of cells is called the endothelium
It acts as a window of your eye that is responsible for focusing (refracting or bending) most of the light that enters the eye.
Functions of the Cornea
The Cornea helps the eyes in two significant ways:
- It acts as a guard against bacteria, viruses, germs, dust, and other toxic elements.
- The Cornea also manages and converges the light onto the retina.
How does your eye get affected?
Well, our eyes have a protective external layer called Cornea that guards the iris, anterior chamber, and pupil. It is the main component of the human eye that assists you focus on what you see. If the Cornea is infected, you will endure cloudy vision.
Corneal Conditions
Several conditions commonly affect the Cornea; some of them are:
- Injuries � Minor wounds and scratches on the Cornea normally recover with time. However, major lacerations or injuries can lead to severe problems such as corneal scarring and eyesight problems.
- Pink Eyes � Pink eyes can often be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies to things like pollen or pet fur. Materials like chlorine, pollution, or makeup can also cause pink eyes.
- Keratitis � Keratitis is an inflammation of the Cornea that causes swelling and redness of the eye. Infections caused due to contact lenses are the most common reason for keratitis.
- Dry Eyes � When your eyes do not produce adequate tears, it causes dry eyes. It can cause discomfort and may even cause vision problems.
- Corneal Dystrophies � Corneal Dystrophies lead to cloudy vision because of the materials that build upon the Cornea. This condition usually runs genetically.
- Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome � This condition includes changes in the iris, swelling of the Cornea, and the development of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease where the eye's normal fluid cannot drain properly, which can lead to severe vision loss.
- Ocular Herpes � Viral infections from the Herpes Simplex Virus causes Ocular Herpes. It is one of the most common ailments that can be a cause of corneal blindness. It creates inflammation in the Cornea and a painful sore on the eyelid or surface of the eye.
What are the symptoms of a corneal disease?
The most common signs of corneal problems include redness around the Cornea or corneal cloudiness. Other major symptoms include:
- Visual impairment, such as blurred vision
- Acute pain in the eye
- Tearing
- Sensitivity to light
- Headache, nausea, and fatigue
When you see any of these symptoms, you should immediately think of consulting a cornea specialist. After all, Cornea acts as the window of your eyes, and carelessness might lead to the light being blocked or distorted as it enters your eyes.
Can Cornea repair itself?
Yes, minor corneal injuries can heal themselves with time, but you cannot take a risk with your eyes, and you need immediate care to continue witnessing the beautiful colors around the world. We at Renuka eye institute know what eye means to a human and thus take essential steps to get your vision normal in the limited time possible. With the best team of cornea specialists in Kolkata, we are the best eye hospital serving humans for over a decade now.
