Cornea Diseases & Treatment in Tallmadge OH

Corneal Disease Treatment

Tallmadge Corneal Disease Treatment Centers

The corneal specialists at Novus Clinic in and around the Tallmadge, Ohio area have the experience and offer the latest technology necessary to treat a wide range of corneal diseases and injuries. Our cornea team includes fellowship-trained experts in the treatment of complex corneal conditions. 

Schedule your appointment with our Tallmadge, OH corneal specialists today.

What is the Cornea?

The cornea is the clear front part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. It helps focus light, providing most of the eye’s optical power. It also acts as a shield to protect the eye. If the cornea becomes damaged–whether from injury, disease, or a genetic condition–turn to the corneal specialists at Novus Clinic for expert evaluation and care. 

How Can an Unhealthy Cornea Affect Vision?

There are many causes of corneal disease and degeneration. If the cornea is damaged, it may become swollen or scarred, and its smoothness and clarity may be lost. Scars, swelling, or an irregular shape can cause the cornea to scatter or distort light, resulting in glare or blurred vision.

Corneal diseases or injury can not only be uncomfortable, but they may pose a threat to a patient’s ability to see. In some cases, prompt treatment of corneal conditions is essential to preserve vision. 

Common Corneal Diseases

Corneal Scratches/Abrasions

A corneal abrasion is a scratch or scrape on the surface of your cornea. Scratches on your cornea can make it feel like something is stuck in your eye. They can make your eyes red, painful, watery, and sensitive to light. Your eye doctor can help identify the best solution for fast healing, which may include antibiotic eye drops or ointment. 

Corneal Infection

Corneal infections are often the result of injuries to the cornea such as scratches that allow bacteria or fungus to enter the cornea. Contact lens wearers are at higher risk of corneal infections. In most cases, corneal infections can be treated with antibacterial or antifungal eye drops or oral medications. This is normally a treatable condition, but severe corneal infections can threaten the eyesight and eye health and may require surgical treatment or a corneal transplant.

Corneal Ulcer

A corneal ulcer is a painful wound on the cornea that may be the result of scratches, injury, or poor contact lens care. In addition to pain, a corneal ulcer may cause decreased vision, eye redness, light sensitivity, swelling of the eyelids, or the sensation that there is something in the eye. This condition can progress to threaten vision and should be treated promptly by an ophthalmologist.

Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy is a condition that causes the cornea to swell and can lead to blurry vision, glare, or eye pain in severe cases. If Fuchs’ Dystrophy progresses to a stage where vision is affected, DMEK corneal transplantation is highly effective in restoring excellent long-term vision. 

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition characterized by a cornea that becomes irregularly shaped (more cone-like than dome-like). Common symptoms include ghost images, halos, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. This can be a progressive condition. In early stages, keratoconus can be treated with special contact lenses. If progressive bulging of the cornea occurs, a procedure called Corneal Crosslinking can be effective. In advanced cases, corneal transplantation may be needed.

Pterygium

A pterygium is a growth on the outer layer of the eye, called the conjunctiva. Most symptoms of a pterygium, including dry eye, redness, burning or itching, can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription eye drops. If a pterygium grows large enough to obstruct vision, surgery may be necessary.

If you have any of the symptoms or conditions described above, schedule an evaluation or treatment with one of our Tallmadge, OH corneal specialists. Book an appointment online or call (330) 630-9699 to schedule an appointment with Novus Clinic today.

Schedule an Appointment


Corneal Disease Treatment Options at Novus Clinic

Corneal Refractive Surgery – LASIK

The cornea is the part of the eye where the well-known refractive procedure called LASIK occurs. LASIK is highly effective in reducing the need for glasses and contact lenses.

Corneal Transplants

Corneal transplant surgery is known as keratoplasty. During this procedure, a patient’s diseased or damaged cornea is replaced with donor corneal tissue. More commonly, a newer procedure called DMEK (Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) allows for only the diseased portion of the cornea to be replaced resulting in much faster healing and visual recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Help Prevent Injuries to My Cornea?

Always wear protective eyewear when playing sports that use a moving object (ball, frisbee), doing yardwork (mowing the lawn, weed whacking, leaf blowing), making repairs (hammering, sawing, sanding), using machines (drills, staple guns) or when using chemicals (bleach, antifreeze, pesticides, etc).

What Are Common Symptoms of a Corneal Infection?

Symptoms may include eye pain, redness, burning, itching, watery eyes, discharge, sensitivity to light, a white patch on the cornea or impaired vision. 

What Are Some of the Reasons One Might Need a Corneal Transplant?

Conditions that may require a corneal transplantation include corneal scarring, keratoconus, inherited corneal disorders (like Fuchs’ dystrophy), infections, tumors, persistent swelling, as well as corneal ulceration, erosion, thinning, or perforation.

Are Corneal Transplant Surgeries Safe?

With over 40,000 procedures per year, corneal transplants are the most common and successful type of transplant surgery performed in the United States.

How are Corneal Ulcers Treated?

Treatment for a corneal ulcer is prescribed based on its underlying cause. Antiviral, antifungal, or antibacterial medication is commonly prescribed to treat mild to moderate infection. Medication may be administered as eye drops. To coincide with medicated eye drops, a corticosteroid eye drop may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation around the cornea. Severe cases of corneal ulcers may require surgery to replace the affected cornea.

Cornea eye doctors

Schedule a Consultation with Novus Clinic’s Corneal Specialists

If you need corneal disease treatment services in or around Tallmadge, Ohio, Novus Clinic’s got you covered. Schedule an appointment with one of our corneal specialists today to find out what treatment options are available to you.