Corneal Erosion

Corneal Erosion

Corneal erosion affects the cornea, the clear dome covering the front of the eye. The cornea is composed of five layers, the outermost of which is the epithelium. When the epithelium does not stay attached correctly to the corneal tissue below, this can cause a condition called corneal erosion.

The most common symptom of corneal erosion is mild to severe pain. The pain may be particularly uncomfortable in the morning upon awakening because the eyes naturally get dry at night, and the eyelid can stick slightly to the epithelium.

If the epithelium is not firmly attached, sometimes opening the lids can cause the epithelium to tear off. Without treatment, your eyes may continue to experience this erosion.

Other symptoms include:

  • Watery eyes (particularly on awakening)
  • Feeling of something in the eye
  • Light sensitivity
  • Blurred vision
  • Dryness