Our ophthalmologists provide highly skilled corneal surgery to Melbourne and surrounds for a variety of conditions.
Our ophthalmologists provide highly skilled corneal surgery to Melbourne and surrounds for a variety of conditions.
The cornea is the transparent dome of tissue at the very front of the eye. In addition to being an essential anatomical component for clear vision, the cornea is also the most sensitive part of the eye, making painful trauma or disease in this area potentially debilitating. Because of this, Armadale Eye Clinic is dedicated to providing access to corneal surgery to the Melbourne community and surrounding areas with an experienced anterior eye specialist.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a degenerative condition of the cornea in which the tissue progressively thins, causing a misshapen bulging of the cornea due to the outward pressure from inside the eye. Risk factors for the development of keratoconus include a family history of the disease; it has also been associated with other conditions such as allergy and Down syndrome.
Symptoms include:
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Haloes and glare from lights
- Double vision when viewing with one eye
Keratoconus rarely involves pain but in advanced stages, the cornea may be so thinned that the inner layers rupture, causing significant swelling, pain, and later scarring. In the cases of advanced keratoconus that involves visually-debilitating scarring or distorted vision that is not able to be improved by glasses or contact lenses, a corneal transplant by an experienced surgeon may be required to restore vision and quality of life.
Recurrent Corneal Erosion (RCE)
RCE is not uncommon and can cause significant pain. It occurs when the superficial layer of cells of the cornea, the epithelium, is unable to properly adhere to the underlying membrane (known as Bowman’s membrane) and repeatedly separates at certain points across the cornea. Patients with RCE typically report a history of preceding trauma to the eye that has caused the weakening of cell adhesions, and will often wake with a sharp pain as they open their eyes, accompanied by tearing and light sensitivity. RCE may be treated with a variety of options including copious corneal lubrication or a protective contact lens. For more recalcitrant cases, the eye surgeon may perform a debridement, which involves removal of the entire layer of superficial epithelial corneal tissue in an effort to allow it to regrow with stronger adhesions to the underlying Bowman’s membrane or a laser procedure known as phototherapeutic keratectomy.
Corneal Infections
Infectious diseases that may impact the cornea include:
- Viruses, including herpes simplex
- Bacteria, such as pseudomonas
- Fungi
- Acanthamoeba, an amoeba
Severe infections of the cornea are potentially blinding due to damage to these tissues and resultant scarring. Initial treatment of a corneal infection requires intensive topical or systemic medication, depending on the pathogen and other risk factors of the patient. Once the active infection has been controlled and resolved, a corneal transplant may be required to restore vision depending on the severity of corneal scarring.
Fuch’s Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy
Fuch’s dystrophy is a condition in which the innermost layer of cells of the cornea, the endothelium, fail in their function of controlling the water content of the cornea. This results in swelling and haze building up in the cornea, causing vision to become blurry or cloudy. Many patients can have a very early form of Fuch’s dystrophy without noticing any changes to their vision. If the condition progresses, vision is noticed to be hazy in the morning, clearing later in the day; in later stages, vision remains blurry throughout the day. Milder cases may be controlled with eye drops or even a hairdryer blown at the eyes to reduce swelling of the cornea. For advanced cases with very poor vision from uncontrolled corneal swelling or scarring, the patient may be indicated for corneal transplantation.
Armadale Eye Clinic is equipped to offer corneal eye surgery to the Melbourne community for a variety of conditions. Our eye doctors are dedicated to providing Melbourne corneal surgery treatment that is safe, effective, and well-proven.
If your GP or optometrist believes you are experiencing a corneal condition, call Armadale Eye Clinic now.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
© Copyright – Armadale Eye Clinic 2019
OPENING HOURS:
Weekdays: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
CONTACT US:
Phone: (03) 9070 5753
FAX: 8692 1131
Email: info@armadale-eye.com.au
WHERE TO FIND US:
93 Kooyong Rd, Armadale,
Melbourne, VIC, 3143,
Australia