The cornea is a dome-shaped, transparent outer layer of the eye covering the pupil and the iris. It is much like the lens of a camera to focus the light entering the eye.
Since the cornea is located on the front surface of the eye, it is more susceptible to injuries, trauma and even exposure to chemicals.
While minor corneal injuries heal on their own, at times, untreated abrasions cause permanent damage to the eyes and impact vision. Hence, whenever your cornea is injured, make sure to take prompt action from a corneal specialist in Kolkata to prevent further harm.
Types of Corneal Injuries
Corneal injuries can be of several types and typically fall into these categories.
Abrasions: These include scratches on the cornea caused by dust, fingernails or accidental rubbing.
Laceration: It involves deep cuts in the cornea resulting from a serious trauma.
Infections: Prolonged use of contact lenses often leads to corneal infections, which can also cause scarring.
Foreign bodies: Particles of sand, dust or wood chips sometimes get stuck in the eyes.
Burns or chemical injuries: Exposure to chemical injuries or UV radiation often damages the cornea.
Symptoms to Watch for
Here are the following symptoms that indicate corneal injury. If you experience any of these, consult a cornea specialist in Kolkata for prompt treatment.
Pain and discomfort in the eye: This can range from mild irritation to intense pain.
Redness in the eyes: It occurs when the blood vessels in the cornea become more visible, making the eye look red.
Watery eyes: The eyes produce an excessive amount of water in response to injury and inflammation.
Swollen eyelids: In some cases, the eyelids become swollen, resulting in difficulty opening the eye.
White spot in the eye: In severe cases, if corneal ulcers develop, individuals will notice a white or yellow spot in the cornea.
How Does Corneal Injury Damage Vision?
Blurred vision: The main focus of the cornea is to focus light on the retina, allowing for clear vision. When the cornea gets damaged, the light cannot be refracted, causing the images to appear blurry and distorted.
Sensitivity to light: Injuries to the cornea result in light sensitivity, a condition known as photophobia. As a result, the patients find it hard to look at bright areas.
Double vision: In severe cases, individuals also experience double vision. This particularly happens for deep injuries because the cornea cannot focus light uniformly, causing the images to appear as if they are overlapping.
Complete vision impairment: Untreated corneal damage causes scar formation, which blocks light from entering the eyes. When scarring occurs, individuals develop a blind spot in the central visual axis, causing permanent blindness.
Conclusion
If you have experienced corneal injury, avoid rubbing your eyes, as it can worsen the situation. Make sure to visit a cornea specialist rather than trying to treat it by yourself.
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