Corneal Eye Disease

What is corneal disease?

The cornea is your eye’s clear, protective outer layer and it plays a key role in vision. The term corneal disease refers to many conditions that affect this part of the eye. These include infections, tissue breakdown, genetic conditions and a range of other disorders.

Corneal surgery:

In order to function properly and provide the best vision, the cornea must remain healthy and clear. When the cornea is damaged either by infection, injury or hereditary conditions, it may become swollen or scarred, and require surgical intervention.

Corneal eye disease is the fourth most common cause of blindness, after cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, and affects more than 10 million people worldwide. An unhealthy cornea affects your vision by scattering or distorting light and causing glare and blurred vision. There are a range of corneal surgeries available, depending on the individual case. In some instances, a corneal transplant may be the necessary step to restore your functional vision.

Corneal surgery includes most refractive surgeries, as well as corneal transplant surgery, pterygium excision, phototherapeutic keratectomy and keratoprosthesis, amongst others.