Cornea Conditions
Corneal disease is a major cause of painful red eye and avoidable visual loss in primary eye care. This section covers common infectious, inflammatory, degenerative, and ectatic corneal conditions with fast access to clinically focused summaries. Use these pages to triage urgency, start evidence-based first-line care, and identify when specialist referral is needed.
Last updated: March 2026
Corneal pathology often presents with pain, photophobia, tearing, foreign body sensation, or sudden blur. Contact lens wear, ocular surface disease, trauma, autoimmune disease, and prior surgery are key risk modifiers that influence management. Prompt differentiation between self-limited epithelial disease and sight-threatening stromal/endothelial involvement is critical. Urgent referral is recommended for suspected microbial keratitis, rapidly progressive thinning, or persistent epithelial defects.
Cornea disease index (A–Z)
Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Severe protozoal keratitis linked to contact lens water exposure; disproportionate pain and ring infiltrate are key warning signs.
View conditionBullous Keratopathy
Endothelial failure causes chronic stromal edema and painful epithelial bullae; often requires corneal specialist input.
View conditionCorneal Abrasion
Acute epithelial defect with pain, tearing, and photophobia; assess for infection risk and recurrent erosion pattern.
View conditionCorneal Dystrophies
Inherited bilateral stromal/endothelial disorders (including Fuchs, lattice, granular) with progressive visual disturbance.
View conditionCorneal Edema
Diffuse corneal swelling from endothelial dysfunction, post-operative stress, or inflammation causing haze and reduced acuity.
View conditionCorneal Neovascularisation
New vessel ingrowth due to hypoxia or inflammation, signalling chronic surface compromise and risk of scarring.
View conditionCorneal Pannus
Fibrovascular limbal extension associated with chronic blepharitis, CL overwear, or untreated inflammation.
View conditionCorneal Ulcers
Stromal infiltrative loss from infectious or sterile causes; sight-threatening and typically requires urgent escalation.
View conditionFuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy
Progressive endothelial cell loss with guttata and morning blur; may evolve to persistent edema and bullous keratopathy.
View conditionDry Eye Syndrome
Tear film instability drives fluctuating vision, discomfort, and epithelial compromise requiring staged surface management.
View conditionHerpes Simplex Keratitis
Recurrent HSV corneal disease with dendrites or stromal involvement; prompt antiviral strategy limits scarring.
View conditionHerpes Zoster Keratitis
Varicella-zoster reactivation with dermatomal signs and neurotrophic risk; monitor for delayed stromal sequelae.
View conditionKeratitis
Umbrella term for microbial and non-microbial corneal inflammation; identify etiology early to avoid vision-threatening progression.
View conditionKeratoconus
Progressive ectasia causing irregular astigmatism and reduced BCVA; early detection supports timely cross-linking referral.
View conditionNeurotrophic Keratitis
Corneal hypoesthesia leads to persistent epithelial defects and ulceration despite limited symptoms.
View conditionPellucid Marginal Degeneration
Inferior peripheral thinning with high against-the-rule astigmatism and characteristic topographic bow-tie pattern.
View conditionRosacea (Ocular)
Chronic lid-surface inflammation from meibomian dysfunction that can destabilize tear film and induce keratopathy.
View conditionSuperficial Punctate Keratitis
Punctate epithelial erosions from dryness, toxicity, exposure, or viral causes, often with fluctuating symptoms.
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