The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of the eye. The cornea helps your eye to focus light so you can see clearly.
As already mentioned, the clear cornea allows light to enter the eye for vision. But it has another very important function as well — the cornea provides approximately 65 to 75 percent of the focusing power of the eye.
In addition to allowing light to enter the eye and providing most of the focusing power of the eye, individual parts of the cornea have specialized functions:
Corneal epithelium
The corneal epithelium provides an optimal surface for the tear film to spread across the surface of the eye to keep it moist and healthy and to maintain clear, stable vision.
Bowman's layer
The dense nature of Bowman's layer helps prevent corneal scratches from penetrating into the corneal stroma.Corneal abrasions that are limited to the outer epithelial layer generally heal without scarring; but scratches that penetrate Bowman's layer and the corneal stroma typically leave permanent scars that can affect vision.
Corneal endothelium
The single layer of cells that forms the endothelium maintains the fluid content within the cornea. Damage to the corneal endothelium can cause swelling (edema) that can affect vision and corneal health.
Corneal epithelium
The corneal epithelium provides an optimal surface for the tear film to spread across the surface of the eye to keep it moist and healthy and to maintain clear, stable vision.
Bowman's layer
The dense nature of Bowman's layer helps prevent corneal scratches from penetrating into the corneal stroma.Corneal abrasions that are limited to the outer epithelial layer generally heal without scarring; but scratches that penetrate Bowman's layer and the corneal stroma typically leave permanent scars that can affect vision.
Corneal endothelium
The single layer of cells that forms the endothelium maintains the fluid content within the cornea. Damage to the corneal endothelium can cause swelling (edema) that can affect vision and corneal health.
