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Cloudy cornea

Definition

A 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

• Swelling (edema)

• Acute glaucoma

• Birth injury

• Fuchs dystrophy

• Dryness of the eye due to Sjögren syndrome, vitamin A deficiency, or LASIK eye surgery

• 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.

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

• Ultrasound to measure corneal thickness

References

Cioffi 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/.

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.