Corneal Care

The Cornea

The cornea is the clear dome that forms the front surface of the eye. It serves as a barrier against germs and dust and also plays an essential role in our vision and ability to focus. If the cornea is damaged or diseased, vision can be affected. The Katzen Eye Group is fortunate to have a fellowship-trained corneal specialist on staff that treats many corneal disorders. If you want to learn more about corneal disorders, please visit our cornea services page or contact us for an appointment.

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How do I know if I have a Corneal Condition?

  • Are you experiencing sensitivity to light?
  • Are your eyes reddening or painful?
  • Are your eyes tearing more often than usual?
  • Is your vision blurry?

If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may be experiencing signs of a corneal condition. Schedule an eye appointment to discuss these symptoms HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cornea?

The cornea is the clear dome that forms the front surface of the eye.

What are common corneal conditions that we treat?

Some corneal conditions that require treatment include dry eye, keratoconus, pterygium, viral infections, trauma, recurrent corneal erosions, and corneal dystrophies such as Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy and epithelial basement membrane disease.

What are common symptoms?

Your cornea usually heals itself after most minor injuries or infections. But during the healing process, you might experience symptoms like pain, tearing, blurred vision, extreme sensitivity to light, burning, foreign body sensation, and redness.

What are common corneal treatments?

Most corneal conditions can be treated medically with eye drops, ointments, pills, contact lenses, amniotic membranes, etc. Occasionally, office procedures or surgery may be recommended to help improve your symptoms. Office procedures include inserting punctal plugs for dry eye or a corneal debridement with an anterior stromal puncture for epithelial basement membrane disease. Surgeries include corneal transplant surgery or pterygium surgery.

Who needs cornea transplants, and what is a corneal transplant?

Corneal transplantation is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged cornea with donated corneal tissue. Corneal transplantation may be recommended for patients with certain types of corneal scarring due to infections or trauma, keratoconus, corneal edema (swelling), or corneal dystrophies (such as Fuchs’).

What are the different types of corneal transplant surgery?

There are different types of corneal transplants, including PK (penetrating keratoplasty), DSEK (Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty), and DALK (deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty). A PK is a full-thickness cornea transplant. A DSEK is a partial thickness transplant of the back surface of the cornea. A DALK is a partial thickness transplant of the cornea’s front surface. Your surgeon will recommend the best surgery for you and your corneal condition. Each type of surgery involves different amounts of time in the OR and variable recovery periods.

Corneal Care Doctors

Dr Erica Burnfield
Erica Bernfeld
M.D.
Patient Portal Ways to pay Request an Appointment Order contacts 410-821-9490

Our locations

1209 York Road,
Lutherville, MD, 21093
410-821-9490
Hours
Monday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 8:00am-6:30pm
Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-1:30pm

301 Saint Paul Place
Professional Office Building
Suites 514 & 902
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-727-8380
Hours
Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm

Ridge Road Professional Center
7106 Ridge Road
Rosedale, MD 21237
(410) 866-2022
Hours
Monday-Wednesday: 8:00am-4:30pm
Thursday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-1:30pm

3401 Box Hill Corporate Center Drive
Suite 202
Abingdon, MD 21009
410-569-0707
Hours
Mon: 8am-4pm
Tue: 8am-6pm
Wed: 8am-5pm
Thu: 8am-5pm
Fri: 8am-4pm

111 Mt Carmel Rd #600
Parkton, MD 21120
410-329-6700
Hours
Hours:
Monday 8:30am - 6:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
NO SATURDAY HOURS In November & December.
We will resume normal business for the 2nd and 4th Saturdays beginning the New Year 2024.

Optical Opens at 9:00am each day.

310 Main Street
Reisterstown, MD 21136
410-833-5515
Hours
Mon 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tues 8:00 am - 6:30 pm
Weds (CLOSED)
Thurs 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fri 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sat (First and Third Saturday of the month): 8:00am - 1:00pm

21 Crossroads Drive
Suite 425
Owings Mills, MD 21117
443-738-4270
Hours
Tues & Thur: 8 am-5 pm
Fri: 8 am-4 pm

901 Dulaney Valley Road
Suite 200
Towson, MD 21204
410-583-1000
Hours
Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm