A Guide to Common Corneal Conditions (And How We Treat Them)
As the eye’s outermost surface, the cornea primarily functions to focus light, providing approximately two-thirds of the eye’s total focusing power. It also protects the more delicate internal structures of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful or irritating foreign substances. As an ophthalmologist, Dr. Rylan Hayes treats numerous corneal disorders with medications/eye care products, lasers, minimally invasive surgery, and corneal transplants.
Why might I need treatment?
While there are many corneal diseases with varying symptoms, the following are common red flags that you may need expert care at the Sunshine Coast offices of The Vision Surgeon in Maroochydore, Queensland:
- Blurry vision
- Cloudy vision
- Eye pain
- Sensation of something “stuck” in your eye
- Photosensitivity (to light)
- Fluctuating vision (especially in the morning)
- Recurrent eye irritation
Without treatment, even minor corneal problems can lead to distortion, increased sensitivity, and even vision loss.
What corneal conditions do you commonly see?
Dr. Hayes frequently treats individuals with keratoconus, which is a progressive thinning or distortion of the cornea. It is most often caused or made worse by chronic eye rubbing. As the condition progresses without treatment, you may develop irregular astigmatism and may still experience difficulty seeing clearly, even when wearing your glasses. Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy is another corneal condition treated by The Vision Surgeon. It affects the endothelium, the innermost layer of the cornea. As the tissue breaks down, individuals may experience corneal swelling and blurred vision, with the most pronounced symptoms occurring in the morning. An inherited condition, corneal dystrophy, causes crystal-like or cloudy deposits to build up in the cornea. Some dystrophies are associated with recurrent erosions, whereby the surface layer peels off and causes intense or jarring pain and irritation (especially when waking). Lastly, corneal scarring often results from infections (caused by things like poor contact lens hygiene), trauma, chemical injuries, and past eye surgery. These scars usually scatter light, sometimes severely distorting or reducing vision.
How do you treat these conditions?
Keratoconus may be treated with a minimally invasive procedure called corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) and custom contact lenses for vision correction. Reshaping may be performed with special procedures or corneal implants or lenses, and advanced cases can benefit from corneal transplantation. Fuchs’ dystrophy can actually be made worse by cataract surgery. Dr. Hayes may recommend a highly-refined form of corneal transplant that only replaces the damaged layer (endothelial keratoplasty). For early-stage Fuchs’, non-transplant surgical techniques may even be appropriate. When both cataracts and Fuchs’ exist, Dr. Hayes carefully plans combined surgery. Eye drops, laser therapy, and corneal transplantation may be suitable for corneal dystrophies depending how they manifest. Laser resurfacing or surgical scar removal represent treatments for corneal scarring, and corneal transplant may be an option for more severe or central scars.
Why should I choose The Vision Surgeon?
Dr. Hayes supports optimal comfort, precision treatment, and exceptional safety with a combination of advanced and minimally invasive techniques as well as the latest diagnostic technologies. To benefit from expert speciality care with a personal touch, request a consultation at his Maroochydore, QLD locations – at Eye Care Specialists or LASERSIGHT Sunshine Coast. Please phone us at 07 4515 6084 today to be directed to where he can best help your needs.
