Cornea

The cornea helps to protect the eye from foreign matter and some UV rays, and plays a critical role in focusing.

The cornea is the clear outer layer of the eye. It serves three important functions in the eye:

1. Focus: The curved surface of the cornea plays a critical role in vision, by bending the light waves that enter the eye. This curvature helps determine how well you can focus on objects at different distances.
2. UV protection: The cornea also filters out some ultraviolet light, helping to protect the eye’s lens and retina from damage due to harmful UV rays.
3. Protection from foreign matter: In conjunction with the eyelids, sclera (white part of the eye) and other structures of the eye, the cornea helps prevent germs, dust and other harmful particles from entering the eye.

Advanced cornea treatment

The Henry Ford Department of Ophthalmology is a leader in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the cornea, including:

• Dry eye disease
• Keratoconus
• Problems related to previous LASIK surgery, such as corneal ectasia
• Eye allergies
• Corneal infections
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Corneal abrasions
• Contact lens problems
• Dystrophies (inherited corneal disorders)
• Keratitis
• Tumors of the conjunctiva and cornea
• Corneal swelling

At Henry Ford, patients come first.

The Henry Ford Department of Ophthalmology is committed to providing our patients with compassionate, personalized care. We feature the most advanced treatments in eye care and are dedicated to vision research – always staying at the forefront of innovation. A leader in Michigan, as well as one of the largest ophthalmology practices in the United States, we treat more than 55,000 patients per year at 12 locations throughout southeast Michigan. In addition, our team works closely with Henry Ford Medical Group physicians in other departments, providing multidisciplinary, coordinated care for those patients who need it.