Corneal layers and its characteristics
Epithelium –> 50um thick and Statified squamous epithelium
Bowmans layer –> Acellular + 10um thick + Dense collagen fibrils
Stroma –> 90% corneal thickness + Layers of Parallel collagen fibrils w keratocytes
Descemets membrane –> Basement membrane of endothelium + 10um thick + Hexagonal fibrils
Endothelium –> Single layer of very thin flat cells + Covers posterior Descements membrane + Major role in corneal hydration
Importance of the endothelium and what does it require
Major role in corneal hydration for transparency, it needs high energy in the single layer of cells for the pump-leak model to function
Function of eye lids
Decrease FB contact and light. 15000 blinks per day to remove FB and pathogens. Has pumps and renews tear fluid maintaining the optical surface
Lipid layer function
Stops aqueous evaporation
Aqeuous and Mucus layer function
Removes free floating microbes, FB and debris. Also has anti-inflam and anti-microbrial proteins like lysozymes
Characteristic of epithelium and function
Tight junctions reducing microbe penetration
Has nerve endings and anti-oxidant production
Minor role in corneal hydration
How often is the epithelium replaced
every 5-7 days due to rapid healing and cell migration
Keratitis
Cornea inflammation giving the cardinal signs and loss of function.
Inflammation signs like epithelial cell loss, immune cell infiltration, corneal swelling and neo-vas.
What does fluorescein staining indicate
Depth of local tear film, it stains disruputed cell-cell junctions. Also absorbs blue light and emits higher wavelength yellow-green light.
Staining is painless
What is SPK
Superficial punctate keratitis
Small pinpoint defects in superficial corneal epithelium and stains w fluorescein. Also assoc. w other ocular disorders
What do stromal infiltrates in the anterior stroma represent
Inflammatory cell migration form limbal vasculature and tear film, can be infectious/non-infectious, epithelium either intact/not-intact
Epithelial oedemas
Means endothelial dysfunction. Leads to epithelial bullae formation causing light scatter. More effect on vision compared to corneal stromal oedemas due to endothelial pump dysfunction. Results in decreased corneal transparency.
Corneal neo-vas.
Corneal pannus is the infiltration of sub-epithelium with fine blood vessels
What is mirobial keratitis
Bacteria/Virus infection from compromised epithelium. Corneal excavations w tissue necrosis. Sight threatening ; Only few bacteria can penetrate epithelium.
What can cause microbrial keratitis
Contact lenses, trauma and herpetic diseases
Microbial keratitis characteristics
Have FB sensation, photophobia and increased pain.
Epithelial defect gives mucopurulent discharge, secondary sterile anterior chamber reaction in the central or periphery
How does microbial keratitis occur
Bacteria colonises stromaa and becomes antigenic releasing enzymes and toxins resulting in immune reaction and inflammation
Then polymorphonuclear leukocytes aggregate and phagocytoses bacteria.
Stroma damage by bacterial enzymes seen
Factors that increase corneal infection risk
CL lens w pathogens on it. Mechanical microtraumas from CL —> Pathogens enter stroma —> Immune reaction and inflammation
Signs of Corneal Infection
Red eyes, epithelial defects, corneal opacification and hypopyon
What is PEDAL
Pain, Epithelial defect, Discharge, Anterior chamber reaction and Location ( usually central )
Acronym to identify lesions that are related to infections
Viral keratitis
Majourity population seroposutuve for HSV antibodies
HSV 1 for the face, lips and eyes
HSV 2 is genital herpes
Primary HSV 1 infection in childhood via droplet with mild fevers and remians dormant in the trigeminal ganglion and the virus activates later in life
What is HSK and its classification
Herpes simplex keratitis
Classification either epithelial, stromal and endothelial.
Epithelial –> Dendritic or geographic ulcer
Stroma –> Stromal necrotic and interstitial keratitis
Endothelial –> Disciform endothelitis
Epithelial HSK
Unilateral w reduced vision.
Signs –> Conjunctival injections, reduced corneal sensation, branching of dendritic ulcer where dendrites can coalesce giving geographic ulcers
Stromal necrotic HSK
Rare w tissue necrosis and viral invasion.
Signs –> Conjunctival injections, cheesy necrotic stroma, anterior uveitis w keratic precipitates ( KPs ) and a vascularised scar