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Cloudy cornea
Corneal opacification; Corneal edema
A cloudy cornea is a loss of transparency of the cornea.
Causes
The cornea makes up the front wall of the eye. It is normally clear. It helps focus the light entering the eye.
Causes of cloudy cornea include:
- Inflammation
- Sensitivity to non-infectious bacteria
- Ulcers on the eye
- Infection
- Keratitis
- Trachoma
- River blindness
- Swelling due to glaucoma, birth injury, or Fuchs dystrophy
- Dryness of the eye due to Sjogren syndrome, vitamin A deficiency, and sometimes after LASIK eye surgery
- Dystrophy (inherited metabolic disease)
- Keratoconus
- Injury to the eye, including chemical burns and welding injury
- Scarring
Home Care
Consult your health care provider. There is no appropriate home care.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if:
- The outer surface of the eye appears cloudy.
- You have trouble with your vision.
Note: You will need to see an ophthalmologist for vision or eye problems. However, your primary provider may also be involved if the problem could be due to a whole-body (systemic) disease.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will examine your eyes and ask about your medical history. The two main questions will be if your vision is affected and if you have seen a spot on the front of your eye.
Other questions may include:
- When did you first notice this?
- Does it affect both eyes?
- Do you have trouble with your vision?
- Is it constant or intermittent?
- Do you wear contact lenses?
- Is there any history of injury to the eye?
- Has there been any discomfort? If so, is there anything that helps?
Tests may include:
- Biopsy of lid tissue
- Computer mapping of the cornea (corneal topography)
- Schirmer's test for eye dryness
- Special photographs to measure the cells of the cornea
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Standard eye exam
Standard eye exam
A standard ophthalmic exam is a series of tests done to check your vision and the health of your eyes.
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Ultrasound
to measure corneal thickness
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.
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References
Abbott RL, Zegabs M, Elander TR. Acanthamoeba keratits. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane's Ophthalmology 2013 edition . Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013:vol 4, chap 18A.
Batta P, Wadia HP, Sugar J. Corneal and external eye manifestations of systemic disease. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 4.25.
Sharma R, Brunette DD. Ophthalmology. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 71.
Yanoff M, Cameron D. Diseases of the visual system In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 423.
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Eye - illustration
The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer or tunic (sclera, or white, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle tunic layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (the retina) is nervous or sensory. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.
Eye
illustration
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Cloudy cornea - illustration
The cornea is a transparent structure that covers the iris. Certain metabolic diseases, trauma, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies and environmental situations may cause the cornea to be less transparent and cloudy. If the cornea becomes cloudy, it can lead to various degrees of vision loss.
Cloudy cornea
illustration
-
Eye - illustration
The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer or tunic (sclera, or white, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle tunic layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (the retina) is nervous or sensory. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.
Eye
illustration
-
Cloudy cornea - illustration
The cornea is a transparent structure that covers the iris. Certain metabolic diseases, trauma, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies and environmental situations may cause the cornea to be less transparent and cloudy. If the cornea becomes cloudy, it can lead to various degrees of vision loss.
Cloudy cornea
illustration
Review Date: 8/20/2016
Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
