Cornea
Care

Our Arizona cornea specialists are highly trained in diagnosing and treating a range of corneal conditions, from dry eye and infections to complex surgical procedures such as corneal transplantation.

What Is The Cornea?

The cornea serves as the eye’s front window. When healthy, it is smooth, clear, and curved, allowing light to enter the eye and focus correctly on the retina. Additionally, it acts as a protective barrier, shielding the eye from irritants, debris, and infections.

When the cornea becomes damaged, inflamed, infected, misshapen, or cloudy, vision can be distorted. Some corneal conditions may cause mild irritation, while others can lead to significant vision loss if left undiagnosed and untreated. Therefore, any changes in comfort or vision should not be ignored, especially if the symptoms are painful, sudden, or worsening.

Cross-section diagram of the human eye labeling the cornea, pupil, iris, lens, sclera, choroid, macula, and optic nerve.

Common Cornea Conditions We Treat

Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease

Dry eye is common in Arizona’s dry climate and can cause burning, redness, watering, blurred vision, and irritation. Causes may include tear film imbalance, inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, medications, and environmental factors.

Corneal Infections and Inflammation

Corneal infections and keratitis can result from bacteria, viruses, fungi, eye injuries, or contact lens complications. Symptoms may include eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, discharge, and blurred vision.

Keratoconus

Keratoconus occurs when the cornea gradually thins and develops a cone-like shape, causing blurry or distorted vision, glare, halos, and frequent prescription changes.

Fuchs’ Dystrophy and Corneal Swelling

Fuchs’ dystrophy affects the inner layer of the cornea and can cause fluid buildup, corneal swelling, cloudy vision, glare, and halos.

Signs You May Need Cornea Care

Corneal conditions can cause different symptoms depending on the underlying issue. Some symptoms require urgent attention. If you have intense eye pain, sudden vision changes, a serious eye injury, or the feeling that something is stuck in your eye and will not come out, contact an eye care professional right away or seek emergency care.

You may benefit from an eye exam if you are experiencing:

Blurry, cloudy, or distorted vision
Eye pain or discomfort
Redness or inflammation
A gritty, burning, or foreign body sensation
Light sensitivity
Excessive tearing or watery eyes
Discharge from the eye
Frequent changes in your glasses or contact lens prescription
Difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably
Glare or halos, especially at night
A history of eye injury, infection, or corneal disease

African female eye doctor performing a slit lamp exam on a senior patient, representing uveitis diagnosis and care at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center.

Advanced Cornea Treatments

Medication and Eye Drops

Many corneal conditions can be treated with prescription eye drops, oral medication, lubricating drops, or anti-inflammatory therapy. These may be used to treat infection, reduce inflammation, improve tear film stability, or manage symptoms.

Specialty Contact Lenses

For patients with irregular corneal shape, keratoconus, or corneal scarring, specialty contact lenses may help create a smoother focusing surface and improve vision when glasses are no longer enough.

Learn About Specialty Contact Lenses

Corneal cross-linking

Corneal cross-linking is a treatment used for progressive keratoconus. It strengthens corneal tissue to help slow or stop the cornea from thinning and bulging further. This treatment is most effective when keratoconus is detected before severe corneal distortion or scarring occurs.

Learn About Cross-linking

Partial-Thickness Corneal Transplant

When appropriate, a partial-thickness corneal transplant may replace only the damaged layer rather than the full cornea. Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center offers advanced procedures such as DMEK and DSAEK for select patients with endothelial conditions, including Fuchs’ dystrophy and corneal swelling.

Learn About Partial-Thickness Corneal Transplants

Full-Thickness Corneal Transplant

A full-thickness corneal transplant may be recommended when multiple layers of the cornea are damaged or scarred. During this procedure, the damaged corneal tissue is replaced with healthy donor tissue. This may be considered for advanced keratoconus, severe scarring, or other complex corneal disease.

Learn About Corneal Transplants

Many corneal conditions can be treated with prescription eye drops, oral medication, lubricating drops, or anti-inflammatory therapy. These may be used to treat infection, reduce inflammation, improve tear film stability, or manage symptoms.

For patients with irregular corneal shape, keratoconus, or corneal scarring, specialty contact lenses may help create a smoother focusing surface and improve vision when glasses are no longer enough.

Learn About Specialty Contact Lenses

Corneal cross-linking is a treatment used for progressive keratoconus. It strengthens corneal tissue to help slow or stop the cornea from thinning and bulging further. This treatment is most effective when keratoconus is detected before severe corneal distortion or scarring occurs.

Learn About Cross-linking

When appropriate, a partial-thickness corneal transplant may replace only the damaged layer rather than the full cornea. Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center offers advanced procedures such as DMEK and DSAEK for select patients with endothelial conditions, including Fuchs’ dystrophy and corneal swelling.

Learn About Partial-Thickness Corneal Transplants

A full-thickness corneal transplant may be recommended when multiple layers of the cornea are damaged or scarred. During this procedure, the damaged corneal tissue is replaced with healthy donor tissue. This may be considered for advanced keratoconus, severe scarring, or other complex corneal disease.

Learn About Corneal Transplants

Cornea Care FAQs

A cornea specialist is an ophthalmologist with advanced training in conditions that affect the cornea and ocular surface. They diagnose and treat problems such as keratoconus, corneal infections, dry eye disease, corneal dystrophies, Fuchs’ dystrophy, corneal scarring, and transplant-related needs.

You should consider seeing a cornea specialist if you have ongoing eye irritation, pain, redness, light sensitivity, blurry vision, distorted vision, difficulty wearing contact lenses, or a known corneal condition. Sudden vision changes, severe pain, or eye injury should be evaluated right away.

Yes. Some corneal conditions are mild and manageable, but others can lead to scarring, swelling, irregular corneal shape, or permanent vision changes if left untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the risk of long-term damage.

Yes. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Glasses or specialty contact lenses may help in earlier stages. Corneal cross-linking may be recommended to help slow or stop progression. Advanced cases may require a corneal transplant.

Corneal cross-linking is a treatment used to strengthen the cornea in patients with progressive keratoconus. The goal is to help stabilize the cornea and reduce the risk of continued thinning and bulging.

A partial corneal transplant replaces only the damaged layer of the cornea. Procedures such as DMEK and DSAEK may be used for conditions affecting the inner corneal layer, such as Fuchs’ dystrophy or endothelial damage.

Dry eye affects the tear film and ocular surface, including the cornea. When the eye does not stay properly lubricated, the cornea can become irritated, inflamed, or damaged. A cornea specialist can help determine the cause and recommend treatment.

Contact lenses are safe for many people when used correctly, but improper cleaning, overwearing lenses, sleeping in contacts, or wearing contacts around water can increase the risk of corneal infection or injury. If you wear contacts and develop pain, redness, discharge, or light sensitivity, remove your lenses and contact an eye care professional.

Corneal conditions are diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam and specialized testing. Your doctor may examine the cornea with a slit lamp, use dye to check for surface damage, map the shape of the cornea, or measure corneal thickness and swelling.

A patient sits at an ophthalmic imaging device during an eye examination.

Emergency Cornea Care

Some cornea symptoms need prompt medical attention. Because the cornea is the clear front surface of the eye, injuries, infections, ulcers, or sudden changes can affect both comfort and vision. If you are experiencing urgent symptoms, do not wait for them to improve on their own. Give us a call immediately. If after hours, call 911.

Call Now (602)955-1000