Cornea

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The cornea is one of the most important and complex structures in the eye. This transparent, dome-shaped front surface is responsible for focusing the majority of incoming light, and when it is damaged, diseased, or altered by a chronic condition, vision suffers. 

At Nova Eye Experts, our team specializes in the full spectrum of corneal care, from managing common surface conditions to advanced surgical interventions that restore clarity and comfort.

Pterygium Surgery

A pterygium is a fleshy, wedge-shaped growth that originates at the inner corner of the eye and extends across the cornea. It develops when the conjunctiva (the thin membrane covering the white of the eye) grows abnormally onto the corneal surface. 

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light and chronic irritation from dry, dusty, or windy environments are the primary contributing factors. In the early stages, many patients have no symptoms. As growth progresses, redness, itching, irritation, a foreign-body sensation, and blurred vision can develop. If a pterygium causes chronic irritation and redness or grows large enough to enter the center of the cornea, it can threaten functional vision and requires treatment.

Pterygium surgery is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, typically completed in about 30 minutes. Your eye surgeon carefully removes the pterygium and covers the affected area with a conjunctival graft taken from beneath the upper eyelid or with an amniotic membrane graft to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Superficial Keratectomy

Superficial keratectomy is a procedure used to treat conditions affecting the outermost layers of the cornea, including recurrent corneal erosions and anterior basement membrane dystrophy (ABMD). These surface conditions can be painful, and  without intervention, symptoms can often recur.

The procedure involves removing damaged superficial epithelial tissue cells to allow the cornea to regenerate healthier tissue. Epithelial cells typically regenerate within 1 to 2 weeks, though full bonding to the underlying Bowman’s membrane can take up to 8 weeks.

For patients who have lived with recurring corneal surface damage, this procedure offers a meaningful reduction in the frequency and severity of future episodes. It is an outpatient procedure with a relatively straightforward recovery, and many patients experience significant improvement in surface stability and overall comfort.

Endothelial Corneal Transplant

When the innermost layer of the cornea, the endothelium, fails to maintain proper fluid regulation, the cornea swells, and vision deteriorates. This is most commonly seen in conditions like Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy. Rather than replacing the entire cornea as older techniques required, modern endothelial keratoplasty procedures selectively transplant only the damaged layers, resulting in faster recovery, better vision outcomes, and lower rejection rates.

Endothelial transplantation targets only the endothelium and its basement membrane (Descemet’s membrane) with or without a small amount of stroma, replacing them with an ultra-thin donor tissue graft. Because so little tissue is transplanted, Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty or Descemet’s Stripping with Endothelial Keratoplasty offer faster visual recovery,  and a significantly lower risk of immune rejection than the older full thickness forms of transplantation. With endothelial transplantation patients experience faster visual recovery and often better vision compared to full-thickness transplants.

Band Keratopathy Removal

Band keratopathy is a condition in which calcium deposits accumulate in the corneal stroma, causing the normally clear cornea to appear hazy, white, or banded across its surface. Patients with band keratopathy may experience blurred vision, eye irritation, light sensitivity, foreign body sensation, and, in some cases, pain if the calcium deposits break off and scratch the ocular surface.

The most common and effective treatment involves EDTA chelation, which uses ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) to dissolve and remove calcium deposits from the corneal surface.

Conjunctivochalasis Surgery

Conjunctivochalasis is an age-related loosening and wrinkling of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent tissue that lines the white of the eye and acts as a reservoir for the tear film. When this tissue becomes redundant and loose, it folds onto itself, disrupts the tear film, and causes chronic dryness, redness, tearing, foreign body sensation, and pain during blinking.

At Nova Eye Experts, we perform ocular surface reconstruction using cautery or amniotic membrane tissue grafts. The procedure involves shrinking the redundant conjunctiva or removing the excess conjunctival tissue and replacing it with amniotic membrane, which adheres without stitches. Patients typically notice meaningful improvement in dryness, irritation, and comfort as the ocular surface heals and the tear reservoir is restored.

Management of Corneal Dystrophies and Degenerations

Corneal dystrophies are a group of more than 20 inherited eye conditions that cause abnormal tissue changes within the cornea. Among the most common are Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, anterior basement membrane dystrophy, lattice dystrophy, and granular dystrophy. Common symptoms across dystrophy types include blurred or hazy vision, light sensitivity, foreign body sensation, painful recurrent erosions, and visual fluctuations that worsen after sleep.

Corneal degenerations encompass a broad category of acquired corneal diseases that, unlike dystrophies, are not purely genetic in origin. Common examples include keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, and arcus senilis.

For both dystrophies and degenerations, treatment depends on which layer is affected and how severely. Mild cases may be managed with lubricating drops, antibiotic or saline ointments, or specialty contact lenses. 

When the disease is progressive or symptomatic, corneal cross-linking, contact lenses, surgical or laser treatments, or corneal transplantation may be the most appropriate course of action. Both corneal dystrophies and degenerations are lifelong conditions that require ongoing monitoring. Nova Eye Experts provides long-term management and regular follow-up to track changes and adjust treatment plans as conditions evolve.

Treatment of Recurrent Corneal Erosions

Recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) is a painful condition in which the outer epithelial layer of the cornea repeatedly separates from the underlying Bowman’s membrane. A significant identifying symptom is sudden-onset eye pain, often upon waking, that, upon opening the eyelids, creates a shearing force that tears the loosely attached epithelium. 

Patients also experience tearing, light sensitivity, redness, and the sensation of a foreign object in the eye. Minor erosions can heal within hours; more severe episodes may take days and leave the eye vulnerable to infection.

Treatment begins with conservative measures and escalates to surgical options when needed. Initial management focuses on eye lubrication, including artificial tears, hypertonic saline drops, gels, and nighttime ointments to reduce the friction that triggers erosions. Bandage contact lenses provide a protective barrier while the epithelium heals, and specialized serum drops support the regenerative process.

When medical management does not provide lasting relief, surgical treatment is performed to remove damaged epithelium and allow it to regrow uniformly. With appropriate care, most patients achieve meaningful resolution of their erosion cycles.