Corneal Disease

Disease or disorder that affects the cornea, the clear, curved surface that covers the front of the eye. The effects of corneal disease vary. Some corneal conditions cause few, if any, vision problems. For example, infections of the cornea can often be treated with antibiotics. However, if the cornea becomes cloudy, light cannot penetrate the eye to reach the retina, and severe low vision, or even blindness, may result. Corneal dystrophies are usually inherited conditions in which one or more parts of the cornea lose their clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material. Keratoconus is the most common corneal dystrophy in the United States. When corneal disease causes the cornea to become permanently clouded or scarred, doctors may be able to restore vision with a corneal transplant—surgical replacement of the old cornea with a new one.

Suggested resource: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdisease/