If your vision has become blurred or your eyes feel more sensitive to light, corneal edema may be the cause.

Corneal edema is swelling within the cornea. Corneal edema can result from trauma to the eye, surgery (especially cataract surgery), or overuse of certain kinds of contacts.

Corneal Edema Symptoms

The cornea is the clear, transparent outer layer of the eye. It allows light into the retina and helps focus your sight. If the cornea becomes cloudy or the opacity increases, your vision will become less sharp.

When you are suffering from corneal edema, you may experience:

• Blurred vision
• Halos around lights
• Sensitivity to light

Treatments for Corneal Edema

The best treatment for corneal edema depends on the cause. Surgery or eye infection can cause increased pressure in the eye.

If pressure is the cause of your corneal edema, your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops to help lower the pressure within the eye. Hypertonic saline drops can also help to decrease corneal swelling of multiple causes.

If the problem is caused by contact lenses, you should get fit with a pair better suited to your eye.

Corneal edema can also be caused by endothelial dystrophy in which the endothelial (pump cells) of the cornea are dysfunctional. Patients with this condition can benefit from partial corneal transplant (DSEK).

Duke Eye Center treats corneal edema and other cornea related disorders. Visit one of our locations convenient to patients in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Winston-Salem, and other areas of North Carolina.