Exposure keratopathy (also known as exposure keratitis) is medical condition affecting the
cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Along with the anterior chamber and lens, the cornea refracts light, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical ...
of
eyes
Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and c ...
. It can lead to
corneal ulceration
Corneal ulcer is an inflammatory or, more seriously, infective condition of the cornea involving disruption of its epithelial layer with involvement of the corneal stroma. It is a common condition in humans particularly in the tropics and the ...
and permanent
loss of vision
Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment� ...
due to
corneal opacity
The human cornea is a transparent membrane which allows light to pass through it. The word corneal opacification literally means loss of normal transparency of cornea. The term corneal opacity is used particularly for the loss of transparency of c ...
.
Normally, corneal surface is kept moist by blinking. during sleep, it is covered by
lids. Increased corneal exposure to the air due to incomplete or inadequate eyelid closure cause increased evaporation of tear from corneal surface. Increased evaporation of tear cause instability of the tear film and dryness of corneal surface. This will lead to
corneal epithelial damage. Both
tear film
Tears are a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands (tear gland) found in the eyes of all land mammals. Tears are made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and mucins that form layers on the surface of eyes. The different types of ...
and corneal epithelium play significant role in corneal protective mechanism.
The dryness and epithelial damage will allow micro organism to penetrate cornea and thus
keratitis
Keratitis is a condition in which the eye's cornea, the clear dome on the front surface of the eye, becomes inflamed. The condition is often marked by moderate to intense pain and usually involves any of the f