Corneal Diseases and Treatment
"Corneal disease" is an umbrella term that encompasses the variety of health conditions that affect the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye. Oftentimes, the cornea can repair itself after a disease or injury, but some conditions can be serious – such as deterioration, infections, and degenerative diseases- and they need treatment.
In this article, you can find the basic information about cornea, corneal diseases, and their treatment in Turkey!
What is Cornea?
Cornea is the outermost layer of the eye; which serves as a barrier along with the white of the eye (sclera) against dirt, germs, etc. When the light first enters the eye, it is bent by the outside shape of the cornea. The curvature of cornea also helps determine how well the eye can focus on objects.
If the cornea becomes damaged as a result of injury, infection, and/or disease, the resulting discoloration or scars can interfere with the person’s vision.
What Are Corneal Diseases?
- The symptoms of corneal conditions are usually the following:
- Blurred vision
- Pain
- Redness
- Tearing
- Extreme light sensitivity
- Corneal scarring
And here are some of the conditions that can damage the cornea:
Keratitis – Keratitis is basically an inflammation of cornea. It may occur with infection.
Ocular herpes - Also known as the herpes of the eye, the primary cause of this issue is the herpes simplex virus. This problem can lead to scarring, and reduced vision.
Shingles – Also known as Herpes Zoster, this is a recurrence of the chickenpox virus in people who had the disease before. Usually, following the bout of chickenpox, this virus stays inactive in the body’s nerves. But later it can travel down the nerves and infect certain body parts. Shingles may cause lesions or blisters on the cornea.
Corneal dystrophies – Corneal dystrophies are diseases that result in structural problems with the cornea. Some of the most common ones are keratoconus, fuch's dystrophy, map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy, and lattice dystrophy.
Corneal Disease Treatments
It is possible to treat many corneal conditions with prescription pills or eye drops or pills. In the case of advanced corneal disease, the patient might need a different treatment. Main options are:
Laser treatment – A certain type of laser treatment called PTK (phototherapeutic keratectomy) is used to reshape the patient’s cornea.
Corneal transplant surgery – In cases in which the damage to the cornea cannot be repaired, corneal transplant surgery can be performed. In this operation, doctors can remove the damaged part, and then replace it with corneal tissue from a donor.
Artificial cornea – Also called a KPro (keratoprosthesis) artificial cornea is an alternative to transplant surgery. Doctors replace the damaged cornea with an artificial one.
Corneal Disease Treatment Prices in İstanbul
İstanbul is among the most popular destinations for those looking for aesthetic surgeries and/or medical procedures. Corneal disease treatment prices in Turkey differ based on various factors, including the type of problem, and the doctor’s experience. If you wish to get price information on corneal diseases, you can easily contact us via this website, and request a free consultation. We will get back to you in a timely manner, and our expert staff will be happy to answer all your questions about corneal diseases, and the treatment prices!