Cloudy cornea

Alternative names:

corneal opacification

Definition:

Loss of transparency of the cornea.

Considerations:

The cornea is normally a nearly invisible transparent structure covering the iris of the eye. Its two purposes are to transmit and refract the light entering the eye. Certain metabolic diseases, trauma, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies and environmental situations may cause clouding of the cornea. Clouding results in varying degrees of visual loss.

Common causes:

• vitamin A deficiency (a leading cause of blindness in underdeveloped countries)
• Sjogren's syndrome
• alkali burns to the cornea
• Hurler's syndrome
• Scheie syndrome
• Morquio syndrome
• Congenital rubella
• trachoma
• herpetic keratoconjunctivitis (a form of conjunctivitis caused by herpes simplex)

Note: There may be other causes of cloudy cornea. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for cloudy cornea, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.