Common Signs of Keratoconus
Vision changes — blurry, cloudy, or other vision issues — can stop you in your tracks. This month, learn the signs of keratoconus, an eye disorder that can impair your vision if left untreated.
3 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Your Cornea
Sitting right at the front of your eye, your cornea sits in front of the other parts of your eye, such as the lens, retina, and optic nerve. This small piece of tissue is the gateway to your vision, and a healthy cornea is key to maintaining your sight.
Stephen Khachikian, MD, the lead ophthalmologist at Black Hills Regional Eye Institute, helps patients maintain healthy corneas and treats cornea problems. Read on to discover three interesting facts about your cornea from Dr. Khackikian.
1. Your cornea works as a protective eye and vision layer
As the most outer part of your eye, the cornea works hard to protect the remainder of your eye structure. Clear and dome-shaped, the tissue acts as a barrier between potentially dangerous foreign objects and the rest of your eye.
Examples of what your cornea protects against include germs, dirt, and other particles. Your cornea even has the ability to block some of the sun’s UV rays from entering your eye.
A healthy cornea ensures you maintain your vision, both by protecting the eye and controlling light as it enters your eye. Thanks to the cornea’s curved shape, it bends light in such a way that helps you see objects close by and far away.
2. Your cornea has incredible self-healing abilities
While the cornea looks delicate, a healthy cornea has the amazing ability to repair itself. It often heals more minor forms of cornea disease without need for further medical intervention.
Issues the cornea can heal on its own include minor injuries and infections. During the healing process, which can take time, you might experience eye pain, tearing in the eye, sensitivity to light, redness in the eye, and blurred vision.
In some instances, these symptoms can also indicate more serious cornea conditions that require treatment with an ophthalmologist. Therefore, you should still always make an appointment with Dr. Khachikian when you experience them.
3. Cornea disorders can lead to losing your vision
In certain cases, diseases and injuries to the cornea are too deep for self-healing and require treatment from Dr. Khachikian. Serious diseases of the cornea include Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, which causes swelling of the cornea, keratoconus, where your cornea becomes cone-shaped, and deep scarring of the cornea.
Initial symptoms of corneal disease include changes to your vision, such as difficulty seeing at night or in bright lights, cloudy or distorted vision, and inflammation or redness in your eye. Without treatment, these problems, and your vision, will continue to get worse.
Treatment for serious eye conditions range from minor noninvasive solutions to cornea surgery, such as corneal replacements or laser eye repair. Dr. Khachikian performs a full evaluation and diagnostic testing before recommending a treatment plan.
Dr. Khachikian serves patients at his office in Rapid City, South Dakota. If you’re experiencing any concerning symptoms in your cornea and would like to assess your eye health, schedule an appointment online, or call the office.
You Might Also Enjoy...
When to See a Specialist About Your Cataract Symptoms
Has your vision changed lately? Is it challenging to see at night? Perhaps the world looks cloudy. You may need to think about cataract surgery. Check out these cataract symptoms that tell you it’s time for an eye checkup.
Healing From Cornea Surgery: What to Expect
You’re scheduled for cornea surgery, and you’ve learned about the procedure — but you’re wondering about recovery. How long will you be out of work? Will your vision be restored? Read on to learn what to expect after this delicate eye surgery.
It Seems Like I'm Looking Through Clouds. What's Wrong With My Eyesight?
The world no longer looks bright to you — it’s as if a button for vision “contrast” is turned off and colors are more muted. Cloudy vision means it’s time to see an eye specialist.
3 Types of Vision Problems That Respond Well to Refractive Surgery
Do you have a driving need or desire to be free of the glasses you’ve worn for years? Three common vision problems — nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism — all improve dramatically with refractive surgery.
What's the Difference Between LASIK and PRK?
If you’re tired of wearing glasses, you may want to investigate vision surgery. You’ve heard that LASIK is a fairly simple and effective procedure. However, not everyone is eligible. Learn about PRK, which is an alternative.