Introduction to corneal disorders

[Dorothey Allen]

The cornea is the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil. It protects the iris and lens and helps focus light on the retina. It is composed of cells, protein, and fluid. The cornea looks fragile but is almost as stiff as a fingernail. However, it is very sensitive to touch.
Corneal disorders include the following:

Bullous keratopathy
Cogan syndrome
Corneal ulcer
Herpes simplex keratitis
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
Interstitial keratitis
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Keratoconus
Keratomalacia
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis
Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis
Superficial punctate keratitis

Corneal disease or damage can cause pain, tearing, and decreased sharpness of vision (visual acuity).
A slit lamp, which is an instrument that enables a doctor to examine the eye under high magnification, is usually used to examine the cornea. During the examination, the doctor may apply eye drops that contain a yellow-green dye called fluorescein. The fluorescein temporarily stains damaged areas of the cornea, making it possible to see damaged areas that are not otherwise visible.