Your cornea is the clear outermost layer of your eye. It’s the part of your eye that is directly exposed to outside elements and materials, including air, water, contact lenses, eyelashes, dirt, and other common substances. In addition to serving as a shield over your iris and pupil, it also works to refract light onto the retina, which then sends signals to the brain for processing and image creation. What’s more, it plays a big part in the eye’s ability to focus.
Breakdown of the Cornea
It’s a common assumption that the cornea is a single layer of cells over the eye, but it actually consists of five thin, delicate layers:
- Epithelium – the outermost layer of the cornea. The epithelium absorbs oxygen and nutrients from tears and is the first line of defense against foreign objects and substances like eyelashes, pieces of dirt, chemicals, and other things from reaching the inside of the eye.
- Bowman’s layer – This second layer works as a second line of defense, helping protect the stroma, keep the cornea’s shape, and aid in healing the epithelium following irritation or injury.
- Stroma – The stoma is the third and largest layer of the cornea. It is made of water and collagen fibers, providing the cornea the flexibility it needs to bend around the eye and adapt during injury or irritation.
- Descemet’s membrane – This layer works as a basement membrane (the barrier between the stoma and the endothelium) and helps support the function of the endothelium, or the fifth layer of the cornea.
- Endothelium – This final layer of the cornea works to promote corneal hydration by controlling the fluid in the stoma. Part of its role is to prevent any of the fluid in the stoma from leaking into the anterior chamber of the eye, or the area just behind the cornea and in front of the iris. It also helps keep the cornea clear, transparent, thick, and healthy.
The cornea does not contain any blood vessels, but it does contain many nerve endings, which is why the eyes can be rather sensitive to irritation, inflammation, and injuries.
Common sensations or responses a patient can experience following corneal issues include:
- Corneal swelling
- Excessive eye watering
- Eye redness
- Itchiness or scratchiness
- Light sensitivity
- Pain or discomfort
- Reduction in vision clarity
- Vision changes
What Are Some Common Issues That Can Affect the Cornea?
Since the cornea is the outermost layer of the eye and is exposed to all the things that the outside world has to offer, it is susceptible to irritation, injury, infection, and even disease. Certain problems that can affect the cornea include:
- Abrasions (scratches)
- Dry eye syndrome
- Eye allergies
- Infections
- Keratoconjunctivitis
- Keratitis (infectious or noninfectious)
- Injury
- Ulcer development
Tips to Protect and Care for Your Cornea
While sometimes you can’t prevent a piece of dirt from getting in your eye and causing problems or contracting an eye infection, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of eye injuries, infections, and irritation. Take a look at these cornea care tips:
Wash your Hands Before Touching Your Eyes
Be sure your hands are clean before you put in contact lenses, take them out, scratch your eyes, rub your eyes, or put your fingers anywhere near your eyes. Your hands touch a lot of stuff and are often loaded with germs, dirt, bacteria, viruses, and other things that can get into your eyes and wreak havoc. Keeping your hands clean before touching your eyes will help minimize irritation and infection.
Eat Foods That Are High in Vitamins
A vitamin-rich diet can help promote corneal health as well as overall eye health. Focus specifically on foods that are high in vitamins A, C, and E. Some sources of these vitamins include:
- Fruits – Apricots, berries, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, mangoes, strawberries
- Vegetables – Asparagus, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, spinach, squashes, sweet potatoes, turnip greens
- Nuts and seeds – Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
Wear Protective Eyewear
Whether you’re playing sports, doing yard work, woodworking, or doing anything that could lead to something penetrating or hitting your eye, stay protected with quality eyewear. Reach for protective goggles or safety glasses, and don’t rely on your eyeglasses or sunglasses. Protective gear is designed specifically to keep dangerous items from reaching your eyes. Your eyeglasses and sunglasses are only made to correct your vision and offer some protection from the sun.
Maintain Good Contact Lens Hygiene
Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk of experiencing eye complications because they must touch their eyes at least twice a day when putting in and taking out contacts.
If you wear contacts:
- Keep your hands washed whenever you go to place or remove your lenses.
- Never sleep in your contacts, even if they are marketed for overnight or extended use. Your cornea needs to breathe overnight, but contact lenses prevent them from being able to do that. Should you sleep in your contacts, you are at a higher risk of developing dry eye syndrome, scratching the cornea(s), or contracting eye infections.
- Change your contact lenses according to the schedule. Wearing a pair of contact lenses for longer than instructed can increase your likelihood of infection and eye damage.
- Store your lenses in a clean container. Change out your lens case regularly, and store your lenses in a high-quality contact solution when you are not wearing them.
Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly
Routine visits with your eye doctor ensure that your cornea and eyes in general are healthy. Should you have an issue with your cornea, your eye doctor can catch issues early and provide the right solutions to treat the problem and restore your eye health. Allowing a corneal issue to go untreated could lead to permanent complications or even vision damage. Routine eye doctor visits can ensure your vision is safe and your cornea is well taken care of.
Are you concerned about the health of your cornea? Schedule an Appointment with the team at Vision Eye Group today.
The ophthalmologists and optometrists at Vision Eye Group are ready to help you resolve any corneal issues or ensure your eyes and vision are well maintained. Through routine eye exams, we’ll check your cornea, as well as test for serious problems that go unnoticed before it’s too late, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.
Stay safe, protected, and healthy by scheduling your eye appointment with our team today: 478-744-1710
Recent Articles