The cornea is the transparent covering that forms a dome in front of your eye. A healthy cornea protects your eye from debris, allows light to enter, and is vital for clear vision.
The cornea focuses the light that passes through since it is curved like a lens. The cornea can also be prone to problems.
These problems can be mild, causing temporary pain and discomfort, to severe. Severe corneal issues can lead to vision loss and even blindness if left untreated.
Keep reading to learn if the cornea causes vision problems!
Refractive Errors
A normal cornea will focus light directly onto the retina. If the cornea is misshapen, the light won’t focus correctly, causing a refractive error.
You can correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism with glasses, contacts, or refractive surgery such as LASIK.
Dry Eye
Dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions. There are many causes, which can make it challenging to treat.
Once your eye doctor determines the cause of your dry eye, they can create a treatment plan. Not treating your eyes dry can worsen the problem, eventually leading to more severe issues for the cornea.
Without tears hydrating the cornea, you can get corneal abrasions and ulcers, which can be very painful.
Corneal Scarring
Chronic corneal ulcers, abrasions, or injuries on your cornea can lead to scarring. Scar tissue on the cornea can distort vision.
Symptoms of corneal scarring can range from mild blurriness to blindness in severe cases.
Keratoconus
Most people’s corneas have a similar thickness. However, if the cornea starts to become thin, its structure can be in danger.
It may bulge outward, causing the cornea to take on a cone shape. When the cornea bulges out like this, it causes problems with the way light refracts through it.
Not only will it distort vision, but you may experience distorted vision, glare, and general discomfort. Keratoconus often requires treatment and surgery in severe cases.
Fuchs’ Dystrophy
Fuchs’ dystrophy is an eye disorder that causes the cornea to swell. It often occurs in both eyes and produces symptoms similar to keratoconus: cloudy vision, glare, and discomfort.
Pterygium
A pterygium does not begin in the cornea. It is a noncancerous growth that appears in the inside corner of the eye.
They can sometimes grow over the cornea and begin to block light from entering the pupil. This can cause decreased vision as well as irritation.
Shingles
The cornea is not immune to viral infections. One infection that can affect the cornea is shingles.
Shingles is a version of the chickenpox virus that affects the eyes. It is very uncomfortable, causing blisters on the cornea’s surface.
Early detection can help prevent any severe issues from developing in your cornea. For this reason, it is important to visit your eye doctor regularly.
Frequent visits to the eye doctor are essential for your corneal health and your vision as a whole.
Are you ready to schedule a comprehensive eye exam to have your corneas looked at? Schedule an appointment at Westlake Eye Specialists in Austin, TX, today!
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