Cornea Scarring

Cornea Scarring

The cornea can be susceptible to disease and can easily become damaged and receive scarring as a result of disease or injury. Corneal scarring will interfere with your sight by distorting or blocking out light as it enters your eye.

The job of the cornea is to act like a shield, and is just a clear protective outer layer which assists the sclera as another barrier to germs, particles that can be damaging and also keep out a small amount of UV rays from the sun. When light enters your eye, it is bent by the outside shape of your cornea. The curvature of this layer helps determine how well your eye can focus on objects close-up and far away.

  • Protect the Epithelium. The most outer layer of your cornea,it stops outside matter from entering the eye. It also absorbs oxygen and nutrients from your tears.
  • Stroma. This is the thickest layer of your cornea mainly water based and full of proteins that give it an elastic, but solid, form.
  • Endothelium. This is a single layer of cells between the stroma and the aqueous humour -- the clear fluid found in the front chamber of the eye. It's a little pump, pushing out excess water back into the eye as it is absorbed into the stroma. Without this action the stroma would become waterlogged, creating a hazy and opaque cornea and reducing vision.

The cornea will usually repair very quickly and can heal following most injuries or disease. You may experience blurry vision, tearing, some pain and photo sensitivity while it is healing. Any of these side effects can also present as symptoms of more serious eye issues however and should be checked by an eye doctor if detected.