The Normal Cornea

The eye is like a camera in which lenses focus the picture on a light sensitive film. In the human eye, the transparent cornea and lens focus light on the retina, which changes it into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the brain by the optic nerve to be perceived as images.

The cornea is the front transparent window of the eye. It is lamellar in nature (like plywood) and is made up of 5 layers, each of which has a definite function. In order to be effective it must remain transparent. Damage to any layers of cornea by degenerative change, infection, injury or scar tissue causes blurred vision due to loss of its transparency. Such a condition is called as corneal blindness.