Are you experiencing eye pain or irritation? This may be a sign of a corneal condition, and you may need to have it checked by a professional soon.
The cornea is the transparent outer layer at the front of the eye that helps the eye focus light. This light is then sent to the optical nerve and processed by the brain into images. However, certain conditions may affect this area of the eye. This article will run you through the common corneal diseases and what you can do to get them treated.
Please note that this blog post does not replace medical advice and should not be implemented before consulting a fully certified medical professional.
Types of Corneal Conditions
Corneal conditions can be categorized into the following types:
- Dry Eye: When the eye doesn’t make enough tears to stay wet, it can get uncomfortable and affect your vision.
- Allergic Reactions: If you are allergic to pollen, it can cause allergic conjunctivitis (pink eye), which may cause your eye to get irritated, red, itchy, and watery.
- Injuries: You may get your eye scratched by dust and other matter that causes abrasions on the cornea. This can be a small scratch that heals on its own or a deeper scratch that can cause scarring and vision problems.
- Keratitis: This is the inflammation of the cornea that causes it to be red and swollen. It’s often caused by infections related to contact lens use.
- Corneal Dystrophy: Material may build up on the cornea causing cloudy vision. This is usually a genetic condition.
Factors That Put You at Risk
Certain factors can increase the risk of you getting a corneal condition. Everyday activities such as not wearing your contact lens properly and not washing your hands before touching your contact lenses can fuel these issues.
You can protect yourself by wearing protective eyewear, especially if you do the following:
- Handling of machines like sanders, drills, lawnmowers, hammers, etc.
- Handling of chemicals such as bleach and pesticide
- Repair work involving painting, hammering, and sanding
- Sports that use a ball or puck, such as baseball, hockey, etc.
If you wear contact lenses, make sure to clean, disinfect, and store your lenses properly.
Signs You Should Seek Immediate Help
Should you feel like something is stuck in your eye, don’t rub your eye because it could scratch your cornea. You can try blinking several times, rinsing it with water or saline solution, or pulling the upper eyelid over the lower lid.
You should immediately seek an ophthalmologist if you feel any of the following:
- An object stuck in the eye
- Intense pain in the eyes
- Blurry or altered vision
- Very red and watery eyes
- Your eye was hit hard by an object causing severe injury or trauma
Treatment Methods for Corneal Conditions
Treating the cornea for specific conditions is dependent on its severity. Some cases may be treated with prescription eye drops or pills. However, advanced diseases may need different treatments such as:
- Laser eye surgery to reshape the cornea or remove scar tissues
- Corneal transplant surgery to replace the damaged cornea
- Transplanting an artificial cornea instead of corneal tissue from a donor
Conclusion
Corneal conditions can be painful, irritating, and require immediate medical attention. These conditions can affect your vision, but your vision can be restored if treated early. It’s best to visit an eye clinic as soon as possible to prevent things from worsening.
Are you looking for the best laser eye clinic in Abbotsford to help with your corneal condition? Valley Laser Eye Centre can help treat various eye conditions, including corneal diseases needing surgery. Book a consultation today!
