Cornea Services

The UPMC Vision Institute's Cornea Services department diagnoses and treats corneal diseases and disorders such as corneal abrasions, cataracts, infections, and dry eye.

The cornea is the front part of the eye that acts as the physical and biological protective layer to the more sensitive areas like the iris and retina. The cornea is comprised of a perfectly transparent tissue that focuses perceived light and redirects it to the light-sensitive tissue in the posterior part of the eye. Corneal blindness is a type of blindness, or visual disruption, that occurs when this perfectly transparent tissue either becomes cloudy, scratched, or otherwise damaged.

A healthy ocular surface, consisting of the cornea, conjunctiva, and the tear film, is essential for normal vision. Ocular surface disorders account for the bulk of the primary eye care services in the U.S., with dry eye alone affecting about six million women and three million men with moderate to severe symptoms and an additional 20 to 30 million people with mild symptoms.

The common corneal disorders related to vision loss include corneal degeneration and corneal dystrophies. Keratoconus is a corneal degenerative condition characterized with corneal thinning and protrusion, which results in blurred vision and visual loss. Managing keratoconus can be expensive and time-consuming. The cumulative economic burden for keratoconus treatment is about 4 billion USD. Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy affects the innermost layer of the cornea leading to corneal swelling and cloudiness. It is the leading indication of corneal transplantation in the United States. Another very important cause of corneal blindness is infections of the cornea, known as keratitis. Most keratitis is the United States is related to contact lens use and trauma. If not treated promptly and adequately, keratitis can lead to permanent vision loss.

Genetic corneal dystrophies, such as Fuchs dystrophy or keratoconus, can lead to distorted, cloudy, or reduced vision and, in some cases, blindness. When a diseased cornea cannot be treated with corrective lenses or medications, surgery may be necessary. The UPMC Vision Institute uses advanced laser technology and surgical techniques, such as phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) or corneal transplantation, to restore an individual’s visual clarity and enhance his or her quality of life.