Introduction
The symptoms of cornea diseases can have a significant impact on your vision. The cornea can be damaged through injury, infection or disease. When the cornea is impacted, light is often blocked from entering the cornea which can prevent a person from seeing. If you are suffering from a cornea disease, your ability to see objects far away and up-close is impacted. Due to the delicate nature of the eye, you should seek medical attention as soon as you experience any symptoms of cornea diseases. The sooner the disease is detected and diagnosed, the more likely your vision can remain intact. There are several symptoms that are also found commonly in other eye diseases which can make it difficult to diagnose a cornea disease.
Common Symptoms
Pain, tearing and redness are some of the most common symptoms of cornea. The symptoms are usually present when the disease has been present for awhile or if there is deep injury to the cornea. Other commonly experienced symptoms include blurred vision, extreme sensitivity to light and scarring of the cornea. The scarring is not visible with the naked eye. Depending on the type of cornea diseases present, the symptoms may not be experienced or may fade quickly with very little treatment. For instance, allergy sufferers are most likely to experience watery discharge, itching and stinging that comes and goes as they are exposed to allergens.
Causes/Prevention
The causes of cornea diseases varies. The diseases can result from bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Some other common causes of cornea diseases include age, heredity and eye trauma. Cornea diseases can also result from wearing contact lenses and as a condition related to certain eye diseases. Eye diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity and retinitis pigmentosa can lead to secondary cornea diseases. Some cornea diseases can be prevented by taking measures. Washing your hands frequently is one of the most recommended ways to decrease your chances of contracting cornea diseases such as contagious forms of conjunctivitis. You should also avoid sharing contact lens solution, makeup and eye drops when ever possible. Even though some cornea diseases are not avoidable, you can increase your chances of detecting them early by having regular eye exams. Your doctor can provide you with a list of habits you need to practice or avoid to lessen the chances of you contracting a cornea disease.
Treatment Options
Treatment for cornea diseases varies depending on the root cause of the disease. Allergy sufferers may be prescribed an antihistamine or advised to avoid contact with allergies. More serious cornea diseases such as corneal dystrophies and Irodocorneal Endothelial Syndrome may cause for more intense treatment. Treatment can include the use of medications, corrective surgery or a transplant. A trained medical professional will make a determination of the best course of treatment to help the patient recover from the cornea diseases. The goal of treatment is always to preserve the vision of the patient. In some cases, treatment will not necessarily involve curing the disease, but managing its symptoms. Diseases such as ocular herpes are not curable, but the symptoms are manageable.
