Your cornea is the clear layer on the front of your eyeball. It protects your eyeball from dust and germs and helps filter out harmful ultraviolet, UV, rays. The cornea also helps to focus light entering your eye. Although your cornea is composed of strong proteins, it can be injured. A slight cut or scratch, abrasion, is often minor. But a bad abrasion or a puncture to the cornea can be very serious and can affect your vision. These are medical emergencies.
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens within the eye that often occurs as a person ages. Although many cataracts develop without a known cause, long-term steroid use and diabetes are risk factors. Watch this video to find out what you can expect if you develop a cataract.
If you have pain around the eyes, headaches, and blurred vision after using a computer for several hours, you may have computer vision syndrome. You can ease symptoms with special computer glasses. Watch this video for additional details about this condition and tips on computer use.
A foreign object can get into the cornea. A trapped speck of dirt or grit is often a minor problem. But anything metal, or an object that goes through (pierces) your cornea, can cause severe damage. Here's what you need to know about getting emergency medical care.
