Degenerative Corneal Disease
Corneal Degenerations. The cornea is the transparent outermost layer of the eye. Light must pass through the cornea to reach the pupil and retina. The cornea is crucial for refracting and focusing light—and therefore focusing your vision. As the eye’s outer layer, the cornea protects the eye from all kinds of infections and foreign objects and materials. The cornea is an extremely vital part of the eye and of your vision.
What is corneal degeneration?
Corneal degenerations are changes or gradual deteriorations in the tissue of the cornea. They can negatively impact the function of the cornea, limiting its ability to help the eye focus properly. Over time, corneal degenerations can cause loss of vision, eye pain, and other issues. The symptoms of corneal degeneration can vary significantly, as the condition has multiple varieties.
What causes corneal degeneration?
Corneal degenerations can be caused by disease or by aging. In most cases, degenerations have nothing to do with genetics. Age-related degenerations are known as “involutional” corneal degenerations, while degenerations caused by disease or exposure to certain conditions are “non-involutional.”
Involutional degenerations are significantly more common.
Multiple diseases and conditions can be contributing causes of corneal degenerations. For instance, band keratopathy degenerations are more common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, glaucoma, syphilis, keratitis (corneal inflammation), and Crohn’s disease. Because these conditions have been linked with corneal degenerations, you should always provide a complete and accurate medical history to your eye doctor.
What are the symptoms of corneal degenerations?
Corneal dystrophies are eye disorders that are passed down genetically. They can be progressive, leading many people to confuse them with corneal degenerations. Often, corneal dystrophies have earlier onset (around the age of 20) and eventually stabilize (around the age of 40). Dystrophies are caused by an accumulation of foreign material in the cornea. Usually, this buildup of material happens in just one of the corneal layers. However, most corneal dystrophies are bilateral, which means they occur in both eyes. Corneal dystrophies can result in eye pain or discomfort (including the feeling that there is a foreign body in the eye), as well as blurred vision and vision loss. As with corneal degenerations, the exact symptoms and severity of dystrophies depend on which type of dystrophy the patient is experiencing.
Book Appointment
