The cornea is a transparent, avascular, watch glass like structure.
It forms anterior 1/6 th of the outer fibrous coat of the eyeball.
The anterior surface : elliptical with an average horizontal diameter of 11.7 mm and vertical diameter of 11 mm The posterior surface of cornea is circular with an average diameter of 11.5 mm Thickness : in the center 0.52 mm at periphery 0.7 mm
It composed of the following 5 layers from outside inwards. 1) Corneal epithelium 2) Bowmans membrane or anterior limiting membrane 3) Substantia propria {corneal stroma} 4) Descemets membrane or posterior limiting membrane 5) Endothelium
It consists of non keratinized stratified squamous epithelium,{5 to 6 cells thick}At the sclera corneal junction {limbus} epithelium continuous with epithelium of bulbar conjunctiva.{ 10 cell thick} The deepest layer is made up of columnar cells, next 2 to 3 layers of wing or umbrella cell Most superficial two layers of flattened cellThe surface cells present microvilli which help retention of an unbroken film of tear fluid to increase the refractive surface of the eye. The corneal epithelium regenrates rapidly & is replaced continuously.
2. Bowmans membrane
It forms an acellular, densely packed layer of fine collagen fibres 12 m in thickness and binds Covers the under lining substantia propri. It is not a true elastic membrane but simply a condensed superficial part of the stroma. It shows considerble resistance to infection. But once destroyed, it does not regenerate.
3. Stroma
o This layer is about 0.5 mm thickness and constitutes most of the cornea [90% OF total thickness] o It consists collagen fibrils [ lamellae ] embedded in hydrated matrix of proteoglycans. o The lamella is arranged in many layers. In each layer they are not only parallel to each other but also to the corneal plane and become continuos with scleral lamellae at the limbus. o The alternating layers lamellae are at right angel to each other. o Among the lamellae keratocytes , wandering macrophages, histiocytes, & a few leucocytes. o All fibrils are of uniform size & embedded in a ground substance rich in chondroitin sulphate and keratosulphate, which helps to make the cornea transparent.
4. Descemets membrane or posterior limiting membrane
It is a strong homogenous layer which bounds the stroma posteriorly. It is very resistant to chemical agents, trauma and pathological processes. Therefore, Descemetocele can maintain the integrity of eyeball for long. It consist of collagen and glycoprotineins. Unlike Bowmans membrane it can regenerate.
5. Endothelium
It consists of a single layer of flat polygonal { mainly hexagonal} cells . The cell density of endothelium is around 3000 cells /mm in young adults, Which decreases with the advancing age. This is a considerable function rese rve for the endothelium. Therefore, corneal decompensation occurs only after more then 75 % of cells are lost. Because of the stroma tends to absorb water ,the endothelium primary task is to pump excess water out of the stroma . with out this pumping action, the stroma would swell with water , become hazy, & ultimately opaque.
Nutrition of cornea
Since the cornea is avascular, it gets nutrition by three sources. 1) Loop of capillaries at the periphery of conjuntivo corneal junction . 2) Aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye. 3) The lacrimal secretion spreading as fluid film over the anterior surface of cornea. 4) Solutes { glucose etc} enter the cornea by either simple diffusion or active transport trough aqueous humor and by diffusion from the perilimbal capillaries. 5) Oxygen is derived directly from air through the tear film. This is an active process undertaken by the epithelium.
Blood supply
Cornea is avascular structure Small loops derive from the anterior cilliary vessels invede its periphery For about 1 mm. actually these loops are not in the cornea but in the sub conjunctival tissue which overlaps the cornea.
Nerve supply
Anterior ciliary nerves { branches of opthalamic division of 5 th cranial n. After going about 2mm in cornea the nerves lose their myelin sheath and divide dichotomously & form three plexuses ..the stromal , subepithelial and intraepithelial.
Corneal transparency
It is due to. .the smoothness of the epithelium .the absence of blood vessel .the uniform organisation of collagin fibrils of the substantia propria .the type of the ground substance.
Note .
New layer of human cornea discovered by researches in university of Nottingham , by pro..Harminder Dua. That is Duas layer Between the corneal stroma & desment membrane. Duas layer is a very thin layer of collagen which is impervious to air.
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