BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCloudy corneaCorneal opacification; Corneal scarring; Corneal edemaA cloudy cornea is a loss of transparency of the cornea. Causes The cornea is the front wall of the eye. It is normally clear. It helps focus the light entering the eye.Causes of cloudy cornea include:Inflammation of the cornea Sensitivity to non-infectious bacteria or toxins Infection of the cornea Keratitis Trachoma River blindness Corneal ulcers Corneal ulcersThe cornea is the clear tissue at the front of the eye. A corneal ulcer is an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea. It is often caused by inf...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swelling (edema) Acute glaucoma GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Birth injury Fuchs dystrophy Dryness of the eye due to Sjögren syndrome, vitamin A deficiency, or LASIK eye surgery Sjögren syndromeSjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed. This causes dry mouth and dry eyes. The...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Corneal dystrophy (inherited metabolic disease) Keratoconus Injury to the eye, including chemical burns and welding injury Tumors or growths on the eye Pterygium Bowen disease Clouding may affect all or part of the cornea. It leads to different amounts of vision loss. You may not have any symptoms in the early stages.Vision lossBlindness is a lack of vision. It may also refer to a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Partial blindness mean...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care Contact your health care provider. There is no appropriate home care. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:The outer surface of your eye appears cloudy. You have trouble with your vision.Note: You will need to see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) for vision or eye problems. However, your primary care provider may also be involved if the problem could be due to a whole-body (systemic) disease. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider or eye doctor will examine your eyes and ask about your medical history. The two main questions will be if your vision is affected and if you have seen a spot on the front of your eye.Other questions may include:When did you first notice this? Does it affect both eyes? Do you have trouble with your vision? Is it constant or intermittent? Do you wear contact lenses? Is there any history of injury to the eye? Has there been any discomfort? If so, is there anything that helps?Tests may include:Biopsy of eyelid tissue Computer mapping of the cornea (corneal topography) Schirmer test for eye dryness Special photographs to measure the cells of the cornea Standard eye exam Standard eye examA standard eye exam is a series of tests done to check your vision and the health of your eyes. This exam is performed by an ophthalmologist or opto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ultrasound to measure corneal thickness UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesCioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.Kataguiri P, Kenyon KR. Corneal and external eye manifestations of systemic disease. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 4.25.Kuborn AM, Hassan SE. The impact of vision loss on attitudes toward autonomous vehicles: a vision-centric analysis. Optom Vis Sci. 2024 ;101(6):424-34. PMID: 38990241 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38990241/.Patel SS, Zaguia F, Goldstein DA. Episcleritis and scleritis. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 4.11.Wang EY, Kong X, Wolle M, et al. Global trends in blindness and vision impairment resulting from corneal opacity 1984–2020: A meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2023:130(8):863-71.PMID: 36963570 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36963570/.AllVideoImagesTogEye - illustration The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer (sclera, or white of the eye, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (retina) is sensory nerve tissue that is light sensitive. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.EyeillustrationCloudy cornea - illustration The cornea is a transparent structure that covers the iris. Certain metabolic diseases, trauma, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies and environmental situations may cause the cornea to be less transparent and cloudy. If the cornea becomes cloudy, it can lead to various degrees of vision loss. Cloudy corneaillustrationEye - illustration The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer (sclera, or white of the eye, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (retina) is sensory nerve tissue that is light sensitive. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.EyeillustrationCloudy cornea - illustration The cornea is a transparent structure that covers the iris. Certain metabolic diseases, trauma, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies and environmental situations may cause the cornea to be less transparent and cloudy. If the cornea becomes cloudy, it can lead to various degrees of vision loss. Cloudy corneaillustrationRelated Information Iris(Special Topic)Blindness and vision loss(Symptoms) Review Date: 8/5/2024 Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Cloudy corneaCorneal opacification; Corneal scarring; Corneal edemaA cloudy cornea is a loss of transparency of the cornea. Causes The cornea is the front wall of the eye. It is normally clear. It helps focus the light entering the eye.Causes of cloudy cornea include:Inflammation of the cornea Sensitivity to non-infectious bacteria or toxins Infection of the cornea Keratitis Trachoma River blindness Corneal ulcers Corneal ulcersThe cornea is the clear tissue at the front of the eye. A corneal ulcer is an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea. It is often caused by inf...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swelling (edema) Acute glaucoma GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Birth injury Fuchs dystrophy Dryness of the eye due to Sjögren syndrome, vitamin A deficiency, or LASIK eye surgery Sjögren syndromeSjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the glands that produce tears and saliva are destroyed. This causes dry mouth and dry eyes. The...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Corneal dystrophy (inherited metabolic disease) Keratoconus Injury to the eye, including chemical burns and welding injury Tumors or growths on the eye Pterygium Bowen disease Clouding may affect all or part of the cornea. It leads to different amounts of vision loss. You may not have any symptoms in the early stages.Vision lossBlindness is a lack of vision. It may also refer to a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Partial blindness mean...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care Contact your health care provider. There is no appropriate home care. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:The outer surface of your eye appears cloudy. You have trouble with your vision.Note: You will need to see an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) for vision or eye problems. However, your primary care provider may also be involved if the problem could be due to a whole-body (systemic) disease. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider or eye doctor will examine your eyes and ask about your medical history. The two main questions will be if your vision is affected and if you have seen a spot on the front of your eye.Other questions may include:When did you first notice this? Does it affect both eyes? Do you have trouble with your vision? Is it constant or intermittent? Do you wear contact lenses? Is there any history of injury to the eye? Has there been any discomfort? If so, is there anything that helps?Tests may include:Biopsy of eyelid tissue Computer mapping of the cornea (corneal topography) Schirmer test for eye dryness Special photographs to measure the cells of the cornea Standard eye exam Standard eye examA standard eye exam is a series of tests done to check your vision and the health of your eyes. This exam is performed by an ophthalmologist or opto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ultrasound to measure corneal thickness UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesCioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.Kataguiri P, Kenyon KR. Corneal and external eye manifestations of systemic disease. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 4.25.Kuborn AM, Hassan SE. The impact of vision loss on attitudes toward autonomous vehicles: a vision-centric analysis. Optom Vis Sci. 2024 ;101(6):424-34. PMID: 38990241 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38990241/.Patel SS, Zaguia F, Goldstein DA. Episcleritis and scleritis. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 4.11.Wang EY, Kong X, Wolle M, et al. Global trends in blindness and vision impairment resulting from corneal opacity 1984–2020: A meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2023:130(8):863-71.PMID: 36963570 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36963570/.
