The cornea is the clear front dome shaped window of the eye. It provides about 2/3 of the eye's focusing power. It gives us a clear window to look through and is the key to good vision. It also helps shield the rest of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful pollutants.The Corneal Service at our centre delivers medical and surgical care to a wide variety of corneal, external eye related diseases and anterior segment eye disorders.

OCULAR SURFACE DISORDERS:

Diseases affecting the ocular surface result in non-specific symptoms and can range from a tired or itching eye to diminished vision in severe cases.

1. INFECTIONS:

Rapid and appropriate management of patients with infections is of paramount importance to minimize visual loss, relieve pain, eliminate the infectious agent, and minimize structural damage to the cornea and the other ocular structures. The common conditions are:

2. CORNEAL DYSTROPHIES:

Corneal dystrophy is a condition in which one or more parts of the cornea lose their normal clarity. There are over 20 corneal dystrophies that affect all parts of the cornea. Some cause severe visual impairment while a few cause no vision problem and are discovered during a routine eye examination. Other dystrophies may cause repeated episodes of pain without leading to permanent loss of vision. Some of the most common corneal dystrophies include:

3. CORNEAL ECTATIC DISORDERS:

These disorders are characterized by a progressive change in the shape of the cornea that results in a decrease in vision. Contact lenses are of benefit and obviate the need for surgery in most cases. However, a small portion of patients reach the point where they need a cornea transplant. Some of the common diseases include:

4. CORNEAL INJURY:

Injuries may result from severe blunt trauma or any kind of penetrating injury. The aim is to restore and maintain the integrity of the globe, avoid further intraocular damage and prevent permanent corneal scarring and astigmatism.

5. SURGICAL FACILITIES OFFERED BY THE CORNEA SERVICE:

Transplantation which involves replacing a diseased or scarred cornea with a new one. In corneal transplant surgery the surgeon removes the central portion of the cloudy cornea and replaces it with a clear cornea. The chances of success of this operation have risen dramatically because of technological advances. Corneal transplantation has restored sight to many, who a generation ago would have been blinded permanently by corneal injury, infection, or inherited corneal diseases or degeneration. Recent modified forms of corneal transplant called Lamellar Keratoplasty are also performed. This involves removing only the partial thickness of the cornea that is diseased leaving the rest of the healthy cornea undisturbed. Lamellar Keratoplasty is of two types: Deep anterior lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) and Deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK).

6. OTHER CORNEAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES: