Our anterior eye specialists are experienced and highly trained to perform corneal surgery

Our anterior eye specialists are experienced and highly trained to perform corneal surgery for our residents

The anterior eye is comprised of several structures at the front of the eyeball, including the cornea. The cornea is the clear dome of tissue covering your coloured iris and is responsible for forming a barrier to pathogens entering the eye as well as refracting light for clear vision. Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic is pleased to be able to provide an anterior eye ophthalmologist experienced in medical management and corneal surgery to our residents and those from surrounding suburbs.

Corneal Infections

An infection of the cornea has the potential to cause blindness or debilitating vision loss, depending on the pathogen involved and the ability to access timely treatment. Management of a corneal infection may involve topical or systemic medications, and in some severe cases, a high-risk patient may even require hospitalisation. Once the active infection has been adequately resolved, if there is significant scarring that impacts the vision, our corneal specialist may work with you to organise a sight-restoring corneal transplant.

Corneal infections may arise from a variety of pathogens, including:

Bacterial
Viral
Fungal
Amoebic

Recurrent Corneal Erosion (RCE)

RCE is a painful condition of the cornea involving repeated separation of the superficial epithelial layer from its underlying membrane within the cornea. Patients will often report a history of trauma to the affected eye, such as a corneal abrasion or another injury, and will find they often wake in the mornings with a sharp pain in the eye, accompanied by tearing and glare sensitivity.

The first-line treatment for RCE is usually copious lubrication with artificial tears and a protective bandage contact lens during active erosions. For more severe cases, our experienced corneal specialist may recommend debridement, which involves removal of the epithelium under anaesthesia to allow it to regenerate with stronger adhesions to the underlying membrane, or phototherapeutic keratectomy, a corneal laser procedure.

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is considered a hereditary corneal degeneration involving progressive thinning of the cornea. The weakening of the corneal tissue results in an outward bulging of the cornea in a cone-shape, which can severely distort vision. Symptoms of keratoconus include:

Poor clarity of vision
Haloes around lights and increased glare sensitivity
Monocular double vision; that is, seeing a double image when viewing through one eye

Although keratoconus is not typically considered a painful condition, late-stage cases can result in such significant thinning that the inner layers of the cornea rupture, causing swelling, pain, and scarring. While the mild to moderate, and some advanced, stages of keratoconus can be managed with appropriate glasses and contact lenses, some patients may only be able to achieve restoration of functional vision through corneal transplantation. Corneal surgery for keratoconus is not common; most patients are adequately managed with optical aids or corneal cross-linking, a procedure aimed at strengthening the network of corneal fibres.

Fuch’s Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy

Dysfunction of the innermost layer of corneal cells, the endothelium, may result in uncontrolled water influx into the cornea, a condition called Fuch’s corneal endothelial dystrophy. Some cases can be traced to an inherited gene, while others appear without a family history of the condition. Early cases may be asymptomatic and can simply be monitored, while the most severe cases with debilitating visual impacts from corneal swelling or scarring may be indicated for corneal transplantation. Our anterior eye surgeon will work with you to direct you to the most appropriate management strategy.

Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic is equipped with the expertise and tools to provide comprehensive care of anterior eye disease, including corneal eye surgery, to our patients and those from further afield. If you are suffering from a corneal or anterior eye condition, call Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic now to organise your comprehensive examination.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.