Cornea & Ocular Surface Disease

Overview

The cornea is the clear ‘window’ at the front of the eye. This structure must be smooth and transparent in order for light to focus properly into the back of the eye and provide good vision.

Changes to the structure and clarity of the cornea can interfere with one’s vision. The cornea can be affected by infection, inflammation, allergies, trauma, and genetic conditions. At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, highly trained physicians provide Patients First care to treat all common problems relating to irregularities of the cornea.

What We Treat

The Integrated Surgical Institute treats the following corneal diseases:

• Corneal scarring or swelling: This condition leads to a lack of clarity in the cornea. Therapies are available to reduce the swelling, and the eventual course of treatment is inner-lining treatment or corneal transplantation.
• Keratoconus: A degenerative disease of the cornea that leads to gradual loss of its natural shape. Early detection and treatment with corneal cross linking (treatment that makes the chemical bonds in the cornea stronger) can prevent progression of the disease and vision loss.
• Corneal infection: Also known as keratitis, corneal infection occurs for many reasons, such as damage by a contact lens that allows bacteria to enter, ocular herpes (eye herpes), or fungal infection. Once an infection develops, this can lead to painful inflammation, which can affect vision.
• Pterygium: Also known as ‘surfer’s eye’, a pterygium is an abnormal growth of pink tissue on the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the inner portion of the eyelid and part of the eyeball. In its advanced stages, the growth can extend to the cornea.
• Malignant tumor :A rare disease, this tumor is an abnormal growth of cells that form a growth of tissue. When a tumor is cancerous, it is said to be malignant. Tumors can occur on the surface of the cornea.