Treatment Options
Treatment options for corneal disease vary widely depending on the nature of the disease and its severity. For corneal infections and corneal surface diseases, there is a wide range of topical medications. For more complex problems, surgery may be needed, ranging from laser resurfacing to corneal transplantation. The indications for surgery depend on a variety of factors and would be discussed with you by your ophthalmologist.
Pterygium: An abnormal wedge-shaped growth on the surface of the conjunctiva. This wedge may gradually advance and require surgical removal. Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid: A chronic disease that may be progressive and may cause blistering and scarring of the eye's mucous membranes. This disease also causes severe drying and clouding of the cornea and may be devastating to vision and can involve corneal transplant surgery. Keratoconus: A hereditary, degenerative corneal disease that causes a decrease in visual acuity. In patients with keratoconus, the cornea thins and a cone-shaped protrusion occurs in the central portion of the cornea. Management of this disease is aimed at obtaining the best possible vision, and includes the wearing of specialized contact lenses and/or corneal transplant surgery. Fuchs’ Dystrophy: A progressive pathologic corneal disorder characterized by a cloudy and swollen cornea, painful epithelial blisters and reduced vision. This condition, which is sometimes hereditary, may require a corneal transplant. Corneal scarring: Cornea injury from abrasion, laceration, burns, contact lens injury, or disease. Depending on the degree of scarring, vision can range from a blur to total blindness. When corneal scarring is dense enough to affect vision a corneal transplant may be necessary.
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Ophthalmology 