Corneal Edema Treatment

The endothelium cells of the cornea pump out fluid to keep vision clear. When these cells stop working, it creates water retention, which leads to swelling in the cornea. This condition is also known as corneal edema. 

Corneal edema is caused by disease of the inner cell layer, trauma to the eye, surgical trauma, certain types of glaucoma, or infections due to contact lens. 

There are different types of treatment options that eye specialists can use to treat cornea edema. The specific treatment usually depends on the cause and the severity of the condition. Here are some poplar treatment options to heal cornea edema. 

Hypertonic Solutions: 

These medicated solutions can be used to pull out the moisture from the cornea region to provide temporary relief. Over the counter medications such as Muro 128 ointment can also be used. 

These solutions are usually helpful in the early stages. After the underlying disease has progressed, this edema treatment option will not be as effective. 

Bandages Contact Lens: 

In some cases, the corneal epithelium may develop blisters, which are very painful. This condition is known as bullous keratopathy. The eye doctor may use a soft bandage contact lens on the affected cornea to reduce discomfort. 

Wearing contact lenses for extended hours can increase the risk of corneal ulcer, so this should be taken into consideration when deciding to use contact lens. 

Temporary Surgical Procedures for Corneal Edema Treatment: 

There are certain surgical procedures that eye specialists may perform in patients with corneal edema, but this is only for individuals for whom corneal transplant is not an option. 

Various laser procedures can be used to improve the condition by reducing the formation of the blisters in bullous keratopathy. 

Another method of alleviating the symptoms of complex corneal edema is to embed tissue over the cornea. 

Corneal Transplant: 

This is the most popular treatment for corneal edema. Penetrating keratoplasty is one form of corneal transplant in which a fragment in the center of the cornea is substituted with donor tissue. 

There is a certain risk of rejection with this treatment method, and the patient may need to use eye drops for some time during the healing period. 

Some doctors may replace just the endothelial layer of cells with donor cells. This is a recent procedure but can be quite useful in treating corneal edema. 

Treatment of Other Conditions: 

When corneal edema is caused by an underlying disease, treatment of that disease might improve or completely cure edema. 

Some types of infections such as herpes simplex stromal keratitis may cause corneal edema, and the use of corticosteroid eye drops can heal edema while treating the infection. 

Taking antibiotics to treat an infection may also resolve any corneal edema linked with the condition. If an individual has a cloudy cornea due to elevated eye pressure, then taking glaucoma medications can reduce the symptoms. 

To know more about edema treatment, read these articles: Edema Home Remedies, Drugs for Edema, and Edema Products.