White opacity of the cornea

White Opacity of the Cornea. When someone has trachoma, chronic infection and inflammation of the eyelids can cause repeated scarring and damage to the cornea. Over time, this damage leads to the formation of a white opacity or cloudiness in the cornea, which impairs vision. The constant rubbing of eyelashes against the cornea (trichiasis), due to inward-turning eyelids (entropion), exacerbates the issue. If not treated, the scarring becomes more pronounced, ultimately causing significant visual impairment or blindness. Early intervention and treatment of trachoma can prevent the progression to this severe stage.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology