Frequently asked questions about OCCULAR SURFACE AND CORNEA

The study of the ocular surface and cornea is an ophthalmological subspecialty that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and medical and/or surgical treatment of those pathologies that affect the cornea, conjunctiva and tear film.

There are various diseases of the ocular surface that can alter its characteristics and cause defective vision, including inflammatory conditions of the cornea (keratitis) and conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), deformations of the corneal structure (keratoconus), infectious pathologies of the eyeball (corneal ulcers) or alterations of the tear film (dry eye).

One of the questions about the ocular surface is what is conjunctivitis. It is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that covers the white part of the eye and contains small blood vessels. When these vessels become inflamed, the eye takes on a reddened appearance.

This condition can occur in adults and children and usually progresses favorably, unless not properly treated.

The cause of conjunctivitis can be a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction due to exposure to an agent (allergens) or irritation of the eyelid margin (blepharitis) as a result of the use of cosmetics or contact with irritating substances in the environment. Each of these causes gives rise to different types of conjunctivitis: infectious conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis and irritative conjunctivitis.

The treatment of conjunctivitis will depend on the cause of the conjunctivitis. There is no specific treatment for viral conjunctivitis. On the contrary, in bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotic eye drops are usually prescribed.

If the cause of conjunctivitis is an allergy, it is likely that an antihistamine should be administered. Also, when exposure to the allergen causing the conjunctivitis is avoided, it may resolve on its own after a few days of evolution.

The discomfort of irritant conjunctivitis begins to subside when contact with the irritant substance is discontinued and anti-inflammatory treatment is administered.

Conjunctivitis, in general, is very contagious, so it will be necessary to take basic hygienic measures to avoid contagion such as not touching or rubbing the eyes, do not share any item that has been in contact with the infected eye (towels, pillowcases, etc.), wash your hands, etc..

Dry eye is a pathology that affects the cornea and conjunctiva due to a lack of tears or poor tear quality, which prevents proper protection of the ocular surface.

Its symptoms can be very annoying for patients, interfering with their daily activities. These symptoms vary, although the most frequent are irritation and stinging, redness, foreign body or “grit” sensation, blurred vision, etc.

There is no cure for dry eye disease, but it should be controlled with the aim of recovering the homeostasis of the tear film. As a first measure, it is recommended to control the habits that provoke it, the use of artificial tears and to maintain an adequate eyelid hygiene with water and a neutral soap.

In recent years, a further step has been taken to combat this pathology through specific treatments such as Exfoliating Blepharo-cleansing, which consists of performing a circular massage around the eyelids and eyelashes using a micro-sponge with medication to eliminate excess bacterial residue, crust and dirt that has accumulated in the area.

In more severe cases, the use of topical treatments such as autologous serum (biological preparation from blood for the treatment of pathologies affecting the ocular epithelium) or Plasma Rich in Growth Factors eye drops is indicated.

In cases where dry eye is related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, it can be treated with Jett Plasma Laser or Pulsed Light Treatment (Eye-Light® technology).

There are also other measures such as occlusion of lacrimal puncta or anti-inflammatory therapy, and in the most severe cases, it will be necessary to consider surgical strategies.

The specialist will determine the most appropriate treatment in each particular case.

The Plasma Rich in Growth Factors eye drops improve the ocular surface and reduce the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome. The production of this personalized eye drop containing each patient’s antibodies is performed using Endoret® technology. This is a biomedical technology aimed at stimulating tissue regeneration through the application of growth factors extracted from the patient’s own blood.

To prevent the appearance of this eye condition, it is advisable to avoid very dry, closed or smoky environments, rubbing the eyes, as well as excessive intake of fried foods and red meat. On the other hand, it is advisable to use artificial tears frequently, maintain good eye hygiene, protect oneself from solar radiation with approved sunglasses and follow a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Keratoconus is one of the most common corneal degenerative diseases that causes corneal tissue to slowly and progressively thin and deform. As the loss of corneal thickness progresses, the cornea shifts outward and changes its normal structure, adopting an abnormal conical shape. This causes a distortion of vision, to the point of hindering daily activities such as driving, writing, reading or watching television.