Health Encyclopedia

Cloudy cornea

Definition

A cloudy cornea is a loss of transparency of the cornea.

Alternative Names

Corneal opacification; Corneal edema

Common Causes

The cornea is normally a nearly invisible, transparent structure covering the iris of the eye. Its two purposes are to transmit and focus the light entering the eye.

Causes of clouding of the cornea include:

Alkali and other chemical burns to the cornea
Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis (a form of conjunctivitis caused by herpes simplex)
Infectious diseases
Poor nutrition
River blindness (onchocerciasis - an infection common in parts of Africa)
Several rare inherited diseases involving abnormal metabolism
Sjogren's syndrome
Trachoma
Trauma
Vitamin A deficiency

Clouding leads to varying degrees of visual loss.

Home Care

Consult your health care provider. There is no appropriate home care.

Call your health care provider if

Contact your health care provider if:

The outer surface of the eye appears cloudy
You have trouble with your vision

Note: It is appropriate to see an ophthalmologist for vision or eye problems. However, your primary health care provider may also be involved if a whole-body (systemic) disease is suspected.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will take a medical history and examine your eyes.

Medical history questions may include:

Did the cornea become cloudy quickly, or did it develop slowly?
When did you first notice this?
Does it affect both eyes?
Is there any history of injury to the eye?
What other symptoms do you have?
Do you have any trouble with your vision?
If so, what type (blurring, reduced vision, or other) and how much?

Physical examination will include a thorough check of your eyes and vision.

Diagnostic tests may include:

Biopsy of lid tissue
Ophthalmoscopy
Special photographs to measure the cells of the cornea
Standard eye exam
Tests for suspected causes
Ultrasound to measure corneal thickness

After seeing your health care provider:

You may want to add a diagnosis related to cloudy cornea to your personal medical record.

Review Date:11/13/2007
Reviewed By:Manju Subramanian, M.D., Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery, Boston University Eye Associates, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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