Cornea and External Eye Disease

Cornea and external disease is the ophthalmic subspecialty that looks after the clear front window of the eye, the conjunctiva and the ocular surface. Its surgeons treat corneal infections, scars, swelling and shape disorders, and perform corneal transplants, pterygium removal and reconstruction of a damaged eye surface.

Modern corneal surgery replaces only the diseased layer where possible, which speeds recovery and lowers rejection rates. Transplants nonetheless depend on donor tissue availability and need steroid drops and monitoring for a year or longer, so the follow-up plan is as important as the operation.

Conditions this service looks after

• Keratoconus and other corneal ectasias
• Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and corneal swelling after cataract surgery
• Corneal scars from infection, injury or herpes simplex
• Microbial keratitis, including contact lens related ulcers
• Pterygium and conjunctival growths
• Recurrent corneal erosion
• Limbal stem cell deficiency after chemical burns
• Corneal dystrophies
• Ocular surface tumours

Tests you may be offered

• Slit lamp examination with staining: The core assessment of the corneal layers and surface.
• Corneal tomography and topography: Maps shape, elevation and thickness; essential for keratoconus and before grafts or laser.
• Specular or confocal microscopy: Counts endothelial cells and can identify fungal or acanthamoeba infection.
• Anterior segment OCT: Cross-sections of the cornea to measure scar depth and graft position.
• Corneal scrape and culture: Identifies the organism in an infected ulcer.

Treatments available

• Endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK, DSAEK): Replaces only the inner pumping layer for Fuchs dystrophy and corneal swelling. Small incision, air bubble, lying flat on your back for a few days.
• Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK): Replaces the front layers and keeps your own endothelium; used for keratoconus and scars.
• Penetrating keratoplasty: Full-thickness graft for disease involving all layers. Stitches remain for 12 to 18 months.
• Pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft: Removes the growth and covers the area with your own tissue, which keeps recurrence low.
• Phototherapeutic keratectomy: Excimer laser smoothing for superficial scars, dystrophies and recurrent erosions.
• Amniotic membrane and limbal stem cell transplantation: Rebuilds a damaged ocular surface after burns or severe inflammation.
• Corneal cross-linking: Halts progressive keratoconus.
• Intensive antimicrobial treatment: Hourly drops, sometimes in hospital, for infected ulcers.

When to ask for a specialist opinion

• Vision that is misty in the morning and clears through the day, a typical sign of endothelial failure
• Progressive astigmatism or a keratoconus diagnosis
• A fleshy growth advancing across the cornea
• A corneal scar limiting vision
• A painful red eye in a contact lens wearer, which is urgent
• A failing or rejected previous graft

Travelling to Türkiye for this care

Pterygium surgery, phototherapeutic laser and cross-linking fit a stay of 7 to 10 days. A corneal transplant is a larger commitment: surgery depends on donor tissue being allocated, you should stay 2 to 3 weeks, and you then need pressure checks, steroid drops and rejection surveillance for at least a year, with selective stitch removal after full-thickness grafts. Travel is only sensible if a corneal specialist at home has agreed to share that follow-up. Corneal infections are emergencies and must be treated where you are.

Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

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