What is the Cornea?
The cornea is the clear window in the front of the eye that covers the colored iris and the round pupil. Light is focused while passing through it, allowing us to see. If it is damaged it may become swollen or scarred, distorting our vision. When vision becomes difficult or painful, disease, injury, infection, previous eye surgery or other problems can cause damage. A transplant is needed if medications or special contact lenses cannot successfully heal or relieve vision problems. The cornea also plays a key role in vision. As light enters the eye, it is refracted, or bent, by the outside shape of the cornea. The curvature of this outer layer helps determine how well your eye can focus on objects close up and far away. If the cornea becomes damaged through disease, infection, or injury, the resulting scars or discoloration can interfere with vision by blocking or distorting light as it enters the eye.
There are three main layers of the cornea:
- Epithelium: The most superficial layer of the cornea, the epithelium stops outside matter from entering the eye. This layer also absorbs oxygen and nutrients from tears.
- Stroma: The stroma is the largest layer of the cornea and is found behind the epithelium. It is made up mostly of water and proteins that give it an elastic but solid form.
- Endothelium: The endothelium is a single layer of cells located between the stroma and the aqueous humor, the clear fluid found in the front and rear chambers of the eye. The endothelium works as a pump, expelling excess water as it is absorbed into the stroma. Without this specialized function, the stroma could become waterlogged and hazy and opaque in appearance, also reducing vision.
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