What is Corneal Opacity?
Corneal opacity is an eye disorder that occurs due to the scarring of the cornea, making the cornea appear cloudy or white. The cornea is a dome-shaped transparent structure on the front of the eyeball that allows light to pass into the eyes. Corneal opacity may cause vision problems since the light rays are stopped from passing through the cornea onto the retina (at the back of the eye). You may experience decreased or loss of vision, pain, redness, and sensitivity to light.
Causes of Corneal Opacity
Corneal opacity may be a result of :
- Injury
- Infection or certain diseases. Infections such as measles, herpes simplex, or conjunctivitis may increase its risk.
- Deficiency of vitamin A
- Congenital corneal abnormalities may also cause corneal opacity.
- Overnight or extended use of contact lenses increases the chances of developing eye infections and in turn corneal opacity.
Your doctor will diagnose corneal opacity by reviewing your medical history and the symptoms that you have been experiencing. A complete eye examination will be conducted using a specialized microscope.
Treatment for Corneal Opacity
Treatment for corneal opacity depends on the cause and severity of scarring. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or steroidal eye drops, or oral medications to treat the condition. Surgery may be recommended in some cases to remove the scar tissue. Surgery is performed by using the following procedure:
Dr. Walid M. Abdalla
(MD, FRCS, ICO)
25 Years plus experience
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Pediatric, Strabismus and Oculoplasty
Dr. Walid holds a Bachelor's in Medicine and General Surgery and a Master's in Ophthalmology from Alexandria University, Egypt. He pursued fellowships at renowned institutions including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, USA, and Limoges University, France.
