Cornea and anterior segment
The cornea is the clear window of the eye and provides about two thirds of its focusing power. Any change in its shape, its clarity or its surface directly affects the quality of your vision.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus thins and distorts the cornea, which gradually takes on a cone shape. It produces irregular astigmatism that increases over time and that ordinary glasses correct less and less well. It usually appears in adolescence and is associated with hard eye rubbing and with eye allergy.
Early diagnosis is made with corneal topography and PENTACAM. When progression is documented, crosslinking strengthens the bonds in the corneal collagen and aims to halt it. It is a stabilizing treatment: the goal is to stop the disease from advancing, not to improve vision.
Pterygium
This is growth of conjunctival tissue over the cornea, very common in high-sun regions like the Coffee Region. It causes burning, redness, a foreign-body sensation and, if it advances over the visual axis, astigmatism and vision loss.
It is operated on when it grows toward the center, when it causes persistent discomfort or when it affects vision. The conjunctival graft technique substantially reduces the chance of it coming back. Wearing UV-protective sunglasses is part of the treatment, before and after.
Dry eye and the ocular surface
Dry eye is not simply a lack of tears: in most cases the tear film evaporates too quickly because the meibomian glands along the eyelid margin are not working. It causes burning, grittiness, vision that fluctuates while reading and, strikingly, watering.
Management combines lid hygiene, warm compresses, preservative-free lubricants and, depending on the case, topical anti-inflammatories. It is a treatment that depends on consistency, not on a single visit.
Corneal transplant
When the cornea loses clarity irreversibly, through advanced keratoconus, scarring, dystrophies or endothelial failure, a transplant replaces the damaged tissue with donor tissue. Before the procedure we assess the endothelium with specular microscopy. Visual recovery is gradual and measured in months, with frequent follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
Does rubbing your eyes cause keratoconus?
Rubbing your eyes hard and repeatedly is a recognized risk factor for both developing and worsening it, especially in people with eye allergies. Controlling the allergy and not rubbing is part of the treatment.
Can a pterygium come back after surgery?
It can recur. The conjunctival graft technique greatly reduces that risk compared with simple removal. Sun protection afterwards also matters.
I use artificial tears and still have burning. What am I missing?
Probably the eyelid component. If the glands along the lid margin are blocked, the tear film evaporates however much you top it up. Treatment there includes warmth and lid-margin hygiene, not just lubricant.
Is there a waiting list for a corneal transplant?
It depends on tissue availability through the eye banks. Your specialist will explain the process and the expected timing in your case.
This information is educational
What is described here is the usual approach and does not replace a medical assessment. The diagnosis and treatment for your case are decided by your treating specialist.
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