Corneal Conditions and Treatments in Birmingham, AL

The cornea is a vital eye structure that sits at the front of the iris and pupil. When healthy, the cornea is clear and naturally rounded, which allows it to refract light onto the retina. However, when the cornea is diseased or has a structural issue, it can become distorted in shape, which leads to vision problems. At inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham in Birmingham, AL, our skilled team of eye doctors wants our patients to understand how important the health of their corneas is to their overall sight and eye health. If it has been a while since your last eye exam, or if you've noticed any abnormalities in your vision, schedule an appointment at our office. If a corneal issue is diagnosed, we can help you resolve the issue or refer you to a specialist for further care.

Corneal diseases can be treated via several methods. The specific treatment approach depends on the nature and severity of the condition. Some common treatments for corneal issues are:

• Medications, such as eye drops or ointments containing antibiotics, antivirals, or anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Corneal transplant, a surgical procedure that involves replacing the damaged cornea with a healthy donor cornea. It can restore vision and alleviate pain or discomfort.
• Corneal cross-linking, which is used to treat progressive keratoconus. It involves applying riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops to the cornea and exposing it to ultraviolet light.
• Laser surgeries like PRK or LASIK, which reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Once you have arrived for your scheduled eye exam at inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham, a member of our team will examine each of your eyes to look for any indicators of corneal disease, like irregular eye shape, cloudy areas, or rough spots. We will also perform a series of diagnostic tests to find any potential underlying issues. At our state-of-the-art practice, we use the latest technologies available in the eye care industry to ensure a comprehensive assessment of your eye health is given. Corneal disease is usually genetic in nature, but it may also be caused by injury or excessive eye rubbing. People with corneal disease often have distorted or blurred vision, irritation, swelling, and light sensitivity.

What are the most common corneal diseases?
The most common corneal diseases include corneal dystrophies, dry eye, keratitis, and allergies.

How are corneal diseases diagnosed?
Corneal diseases can only be identified and diagnosed by an experienced ophthalmologist, like the skilled doctors on our team at inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham. During a routine complete eye examination, we will check your eyes for a variety of diseases and issues, including corneal diseases.

How are corneal diseases typically treated?
There are a wide variety of treatments for corneal diseases, including medications and eye drops, artificial corneal implants, corneal transplants, and laser surgery.

What should I know about the cornea?

• Corneas have no blood vessels
• They heal and repair themselves much faster than other tissues
• About 70% of the light entering your eyes is focused by the corneas
• A shark's cornea is so similar to human corneas it can be used in a corneal transplant (although normal corneal transplants use donor corneas)

When it comes to your eye health, receiving routine exams is vital to ensure that the structures of your eye look and are operating the way they should. If we detect an issue with your corneal tissue at inVision Ophthalmology Birmingham, our skilled team will work with you to address the issue and restore your eye health. Contact our office in Birmingham, AL if you have any questions about your eyes or have noticed any changes in your vision.