Cornea
The cornea is the clear dome at the front of your eye. It covers the iris and pupil and handles about two-thirds of the eye’s focusing, so light has to pass through it cleanly before the lens can do its part. When the cornea gets scarred, swollen, infected, or misshapen, vision usually suffers.
Our cornea specialists diagnose and treat conditions of the cornea and the eye’s surface, from infections that need prompt care to cases that need a corneal transplant.
Cornea care in San Francisco
Questions about your cornea or a diagnosis you’ve received? Call to schedule an evaluation with one of our cornea specialists.
In this Page
Conditions We Treat
Corneal infections and ulcers
Bacteria, fungi, or viruses can cause open sores on the cornea. Contact lens wear, especially overnight, is a major risk factor.
Pterygium and pinguecula
Growths on the white of the eye linked to sun, wind, and dust. A pinguecula is a yellowish bump. A pterygium is fleshier and can grow onto the cornea.
Corneal abrasions
A scratch on the cornea's surface, often from a fingernail, makeup brush, or debris. Even a small one can hurt, since the cornea is packed with nerves.
Recurrent corneal erosion
The cornea’s surface layer doesn’t stay firmly attached and keeps breaking open, often causing pain when you wake up. It can follow a past scratch.
Dry eye
Your eyes don't make enough tears, or the tears dry too fast. The cornea's surface can feel gritty or burning, and vision may blur.
Herpes eye disease
Herpes simplex and shingles (herpes zoster) can both infect the cornea. Both viruses stay dormant in nerve cells and can flare up again later.
Corneal scarring
Infections, injuries, and keratoconus can leave scars that cloud the cornea. Their effect on vision depends on size and location.
Keratoconus
The cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape, distorting vision. It often starts in the late teens and is linked to allergies and eye rubbing.
Fuchs' dystrophy
Cells lining the back of the cornea stop pumping fluid out, so the cornea swells and vision turns hazy, often worst in the morning.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the condition and how deep into the cornea it goes. Many problems are managed with drops, specialty contact lenses, or monitoring. Others need a procedure, done either in our office or as same-day outpatient surgery.
In-Office Services
- Epithelial debridement. Loose or irregular cells are gently removed from the cornea’s surface so healthy cells can grow back in their place.
- Amniotic membrane. A thin layer of donated tissue sits on the eye like a contact lens and helps the cornea’s surface heal.
- Conjunctival excision. Excess or abnormal tissue is removed from the conjunctiva, the clear layer covering the white of the eye.
Outpatient Procedures
- Endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). Only the damaged inner layer of the cornea is replaced. This is a common surgery for Fuchs’ dystrophy.
- Pterygium excision with graft. The growth is removed and the area is covered with healthy tissue, which lowers the chance it grows back.
- Full corneal transplant (PKP). The full thickness of the cornea is replaced with donor tissue when damage goes through every layer.
- Epithelial debridement. Loose or irregular cells are gently removed from the cornea’s surface so healthy cells can grow back in their place.
- Amniotic membrane. A thin layer of donated tissue sits on the eye like a contact lens and helps the cornea’s surface heal.
- Conjunctival excision. Excess or abnormal tissue is removed from the conjunctiva, the clear layer covering the white of the eye.
- Endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). Only the damaged inner layer of the cornea is replaced. This is a common surgery for Fuchs’ dystrophy.
- Pterygium excision with graft. The growth is removed and the area is covered with healthy tissue, which lowers the chance it grows back.
- Full corneal transplant (PKP). The full thickness of the cornea is replaced with donor tissue when damage goes through every layer.
Schedule a cornea visit
Your first visit includes a full exam of your cornea and a conversation about what’s causing your symptoms and how we can treat it.
