Common Corneal Ailments

Question 1

Neovascularization

Answer 1

New blood vessel growth

Question 2

Edema

Answer 2

Swelling of the tissue

Question 3

Hypoxia

Answer 3

Lack of oxygen to the cornea

Question 4

Corneal Opacities

Answer 4

Usually due to damage to one of the layers of the
cornea. The endothelium and Bowman’s layer doesn’t regenerate after injury and the stroma will regenerate but the cells will not be uniform resulting in opacities

• Leukoma: dense opacities
• Macula: medium opacities
• Nebula: faint opacities

Question 5

Infiltrates

Answer 5

White blood cells in the corneal tissue

Question 6

Keratitis

Answer 6

Inflammation of the cornea

-Keratitis sicca: inflammation caused by dryness

Question 7

Keratoconus

Answer 7

Thinning of the central cornea resulting in a cone shaped cornea

Question 8

Ulcer

Answer 8

Corneal nick as a result of trauma, burns, or infection

Question 9

Recurrent corneal erosion

Answer 9

Reoccuring epithelial loss after corneal injury

Question 10

Bullous Keratopathy

Answer 10

Blisters that are called bullae, are formed by the

breakdown of the endothelium, that rise to the epithelial surface where they burst and cause intense pain