Corneal edema is a swelling of the cornea caused by fluid retention, which can lead to vision distortions and pain. It can be caused by various factors, including eye surgery, trauma, inflammation, and chronic eye disease. Treatment may involve medication, rest from contacts, and surgery. Follow-up care is important to address the underlying cause and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Corneal edema is a swelling of the cornea, the thin clear coating over the iris of the eye, caused by fluid retention. Several things can lead to corneal edema developing, and in some cases, the condition can be treated with medications and surgery. Treatment of this condition requires evaluation by an ophthalmologist, and follow-ups with other medical professionals may be necessary to address the underlying cause.
The cornea is the key to clear, sharp vision. In healthy individuals, it is continually lubricated with fresh tears and old fluid is drained away to keep the shape of the cornea consistent and uniform. In people with corneal edema, it begins to swell and vision distortions such as halos around lights and blurred vision may develop. If left untreated, pain can emerge in the eye and small blisters can form in and around the cornea.
Common causes of corneal edema include eye surgery, particularly on the cornea itself, eye trauma, inflammation, infection, increased pressure in the eye, contact misuse, and chronic eye disease. Glaucoma, for example, can cause edema by increasing the pressure inside the eye. Most commonly, this condition is seen in people over the age of 50, although younger patients can also develop corneal edema, especially if they have chronic eye problems or experience eye trauma.
In an exam, a doctor can confirm that swelling of the cornea is the problem and look for signs of damage to the eye. The longer this condition is allowed to persist, the greater the risk of damaging eye structures. The doctor usually prescribes a rest from the contacts, if the patient uses them, and provides some medications to treat the edema by eliminating excess fluid. Pain medications may also be offered to ease any discomfort. If the edema was caused by contacts, the patient may need a new contact fitting, as well as a review of proper eye care with contacts.
If these treatments don’t help, surgery may be considered an option. This depends on the cause of the corneal edema and the patient’s general fitness level. After surgery, patients will be given detailed instructions to reduce the recurrence of edema, as surgery is a known risk factor and problems such as inflammation and infection can also develop after surgery, putting the patient at risk. risk of corneal swelling. It is recommended that you receive aftercare instructions before surgery so that patients can prepare and know what to expect after surgery.
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