Cornea

The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of your eye; it helps your eye to focus light so you can see clearly.

Along with the sclera (the white of your eye), the cornea protects against dirt, germs, and other things that can damage your eye. Fun fact: the cornea is the only part of the human body that has no blood supply; it gets oxygen directly through the air. The cornea is also the fastest healing tissue in the human body—most corneal abrasions (or scratches) will heal within 24-36 hours.

To Help Prevent Injuries to Your Cornea, Wear Protective Eyewear When:

• Playing sports that use a ball or puck—baseball or hockey
• Doing yardwork—mowing the lawn, weed whacking, or leaf blowing
• Making repairs—hammering, sawing, or sanding
• Using machines—drills or staple guns
• Use chemicals—bleach, antifreeze, or pesticides

If you wear contact lenses, always follow the instructions to clean, disinfect, and store your lenses. This can help prevent corneal infections, like keratitis.

At Grand Rapids Ophthalmology, we pride ourselves on our ability to professionally and compassionately treat all forms of eye-related issues. Our team of world-class eye doctors includes two excellent corneal specialists, Thomas Cowden, MD, and Marcus Muallem, MD, who combined have multiple decades’ worth of experience to ensure that your eye care is in the best possible hands.