Ocular surface and corneal diseases:
Keratoconus, Iritis and Pterygium

Ocular surface and corneal diseases, such as keratoconus, iritis and pterygium, all affect our eyes in different ways. Keratoconus會影響屈光能力及令散光加深的速度加快，角膜膠原交聯手術使角膜纖維中的膠原蛋白緊扣一起，強化角膜調理錐形角膜。Iritis, a viral or bacterial infection of the anterior part of the uvea, could lead to complications such as examination before cataract surgery, glaucoma and other complications. And Pterygium is a benign conjunctival lesion, a triangular wing-shaped foreign body that covers the white of the eye and extends to the cornea. When the pterygium gradually grows toward the pupil, it may become inflamed and cause the white of the eye to become red and swollen.是良性結膜病變，三角形翼狀異物增生覆蓋眼白並伸延至角膜，當胬肉逐漸向瞳孔生長，有機會發炎以致眼白紅腫。若出現以上狀況，應儘快與我們中心聯絡，安排診斷及調理。

Keratoconus

又稱圓錐角膜，當角膜中央變薄，被眼球內的壓力不斷向外推，改變角膜原本的弧度而導致向外凸出，形成錐形角膜。錐形角膜可以影響屈光能力及令散光加深的速度加快。錐形角膜的成因還不清楚，但有可能跟經常揉眼、過敏性疾病和基因遺傳有關。患者通常在青春期或二十多歲左右病發，由於錐形角膜的早期症狀跟普通的散光和近視沒有太大分別，患者未必會發現問題而尋求眼科醫生的意見，所以比較難確診。但隨著病情惡化，有機會令視力突然變差，即使接受療程後，也可能因為角膜結疤而永久影響視力。

Symptoms of Keratoconus

Bulging outward of cornea

Worsening in a greater and faster manner in myopia or astigmatism

Decreased visual function

錐形角膜的調理

Hard contact lens

Hard contact lenses exert greater pressure on the top, so they can press the cornea to deform. However, they are less comfortable and may be displaced on the surface of the eyes.

Corneal collagen cross-linking

Corneal collagen cross-linking surgery (also called corneal cross-linking surgery) is to apply riboflavin (a type of vitamin B2) eye solution to the patient's eyes, and then illuminate the eyes with ultraviolet light for 45 minutes to tighten the collagen in the corneal fibers, strengthening the cornea and making it stronger and more stable. This corneal cross-linking surgery reduces the chance of corneal ectasia, deformation and degree rebound.

Precautions after corneal collagen cross-linking surgery

Avoid eye makeup
Avoid getting shampoo or soap into your eyes
Avoid getting perfume or hair spray into your eyes
Do not drive until your vision is stable
No swimming or steam bathing
Avoid strenuous exercise, such as health dance and ball games
Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking to avoid eye irritation
Wear sunglasses when going out to prevent dust or foreign objects from entering your eyes
Avoid places with turbid air
Follow the doctor's instructions to instill eye drops and follow up regularly.

Implantation of Intra-Corneal Ring

Intra-Corneal Ring are two crescent-shaped pieces of a plastic that are implanted into the cornea stroma after a tiny incision is made in the cornea. Such procedure is to support the thin and weak cornea and flatten the central curvature of the cornea, which reduces irregular astigmatism and improves visual function. If postoperative vision improvement is not satisfactory, the Intra-Corneal Ring can be replaced or removed.

Iritis

虹膜位於角膜與晶體之間的肌肉組織，負責控制瞳孔大小，也是葡萄膜的前半部，所以虹膜炎是葡萄膜的前半部受病毒、細菌感染。當身體免疫系統出問題而攻擊虹膜細胞也會導致發炎，眼白呈現紅色，如果不及時調理，可能會引起白內障、青光眼等併發症。患者需要口服類固醇或滴消炎眼藥水以消除紅腫、舒緩眼睛痛楚。人們通常把容易虹膜炎和Conjunctivitis混淆。虹膜炎指眼珠發炎，結膜炎則指眼白位置發炎，兩者的發炎地方並不相同。請繼續閱讀了解更多結膜炎成因、症狀、檢查及如何調理。

Symptoms of Iritis

Blurry vision

Sensitivity to light
(photophobia)

Eye pain

Red and itchy eyes

Eye floaters

Watery eyes

Steroid drugs

虹膜炎的調理

Mild cases

Patients can use steroid eye drops or ointment to control the condition

Severe cases

Patients need direct injection of medication into the eye to control inflammation. Some patients even have to take steroids to cure the condition fully.

Caution

Long-term application of steroids may increase the risk of cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, so such medications must be prescribed by and under the supervision of an ophthalmologist and should not be purchased on your own.

Pterygium is a benign conjunctival lesion, a triangular wing-shaped foreign body that covers the white of the eye and extends to the cornea. When the pterygium gradually grows toward the pupil, it may become inflamed and cause the white of the eye to become red and swollen.

Pterygium is a benign wedge-shaped fibrovascular growth of the conjunctiva that can enlarge and extend onto the cornea. As the pterygium grows into the pupil, it may become inflamed and cause redness and swelling in the white of the eye. The exact cause of the disease is uncertain. However, prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV light, and irritants like sand and wind will increase the risk of vascular tissue proliferation and increase the chance of pterygium enlargement.