Cornea Treatment Brisbane

What is the cornea?

The cornea is the eye’s clear, protective outer layer. It’s our window to the world. Any irregularities in its shape or structure can cause discomfort or problems with our sight.

Our corneal specialists diagnose and manage a wide range of corneal problems. Each condition presents its own challenges, and different approaches are required to treat each one.

Did you know? Studies estimate the cornea has around 300-600 times as many pain receptors as our skin. No wonder it hurts so much when we have something in our eye!

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Keratoconus

In keratoconus, the cornea becomes thinner and gradually bulges outward into a cone-like shape. This change in shape causes problems such as blurry or distorted vision, and sensitivity to light and glare.

Keratoconus is either sporadic or inherited and may be related to eye rubbing or allergic eye disease. If not addressed at a young age, keratoconus can lead to corneal swelling and scarring. In such cases, a corneal transplant may be required. However, timely treatment with corneal cross-linking (CXL) can help prevent the worsening shape of the eye.

We diagnose keratoconus using sophisticated scans and software. If you have this condition, we offer corneal cross-linking in-clinic for a small out-of-pocket cost (if you don’t have insurance), or in theatre (if you do). We can also discuss therapeutic contact lenses and glasses that can protect the cornea and improve your sight.

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Fuchs endothelial dystrophy

This condition damages the cornea’s innermost layer and causes fluid build-up. This leads to blurry vision and discomfort, especially first thing in the morning. We diagnose Fuchs endothelial dystrophy using careful examination, measurements and specialised scans.

Treatments include prescribed drops, surgery (DWEK) to remove the damaged layer, or a partial thickness corneal transplant (DMEK) if a full replacement is required.

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Treatments for corneal scarring

Infections, inflammatory conditions or eye injury can cause corneal scarring. When you come to our clinic, we’ll evaluate your condition and advise on the best treatment plan for you.

If the scars are recent, we may start with eye drops. If they’ve been there for a while, we may recommend a laser treatment called phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). With PTK, we remove the scar tissue to improve your vision and get you back to enjoying life to the full.

Did you know? Unlike many ophthalmic practices, we have our own PTK laser equipment. This means we can swiftly treat your corneal scarring and it may attract insurance and/or medicare coverage too.

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Corneal infections (keratitis)

Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea that’s commonly caused by infection. While most cases aren’t serious, some can lead to complications, like scarring, ulcers and even blindness.

If you have eye pain or redness, excess tears or discharge, blurred vision or just feel like something’s in your eye, out of an abundance of caution, you should see an eye specialist right away.  

For mild corneal infections we treat you as an outpatient at our clinic, often with prescription eye drops. For more severe cases, our eye doctors can manage your treatment at a nearby public hospital. Rest assured, we’ll diagnose your corneal infection, and tailor the best treatment plan for you.

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Pterygium

Pterygium is a triangular overgrowth of tissue on the front of the eye (cornea). It’s typically caused by years of sunlight exposure, so if you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle or spend a lot of time driving, you may be at risk.

Pterygium might make you feel self-conscious and cause irritation, watery eyes and blurry vision. If left untreated, it can slowly spread to cover your pupil and cause permanent damage to your sight.

In the operating theatre, we can remove your pterygium and replace it with a thin graft of healthy tissue from the top of your eye. To ensure a comfortable healing process and improved appearance, we use natural adhesive to secure the healthy tissue in place.

Did you know? About one in every 100 Australians develops a pterygium. It’s often known as Surfer’s Eye.