Cornea Scar

The cornea is a part of the eye. It has a dome-shaped surface and is the outer most layer of the eye that covers the front part of the eye.

The cornea doesn't contain blood vessels so it doesn't have protection against infection nor does it get nourishment from vessels. Instead, it is fed by tears that are in the chamber located behind the cornea, according to the National Eye Institute.

Function

• In order to see clearly, the cornea must not be muddied by opaque or cloudy areas. It needs to stay transparent. If the cornea is scratched or torn, healthy cells will quickly slide across the cornea and repair the injury so that infection does not set in and vision is not affected.

Scarring

• When the tear or scratch is deep, this is painful and results in blurred vision, red eyes and intense sensitivity to light. A deep tear or scratch can cause scarring, which will make your cornea hazy and profoundly affect your vision. Sometimes a corneal transplant is required.

Infection

• Infection can occur if a person is poked in the eye and the cornea is damaged as a result. Infection causes pain, eye discharge and vision impairment. This condition is called keratitis. If left unchecked, the cornea can erode and scarring will occur.

Surgery

• According to Dr. John C. Hagan III, doctor of ophthalmology at Discover Vision Centers in Kansas City, Missouri, sterile eye drops will not remove a scar from the cornea once it has formed. In this case, surgery may be required.