What is the treatment for corneal edema?
FEB 21, 2024
Question:
What is the treatment for corneal edema?
Answer:
Treatment of corneal edema—or swelling of the cornea—is based on what's causing the swelling.
Most commonly, the endothelial cells responsible for pumping fluid out of the cornea are damaged. In glaucoma, the intraocular pressure needs to be reduced. If the swelling is due to an inflammatory condition, the inflammation needs to be treated. Hypertonic saline drops or ointment can temporarily help reduce swelling of the cornea. In patients where the edema builds up overnight, some doctors recommend using a hair dryer to blow air on the eyes to increase evaporation of tears, and thus reduce the swelling of the cornea.
Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, or DSAEK, is currently the standard surgical treatment for patients who have visually significant corneal edema not responsive to medical therapy.
This question was originally answered on Dec. 11, 2013.