ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the cornea, as well as an overview of common conditions. Forming the anterior one-sixth of the eyeball, the cornea is a transparent structure which fits into the surrounding sclera like a watch-glass. It is convex, a vascular and highly sensitive. The site where the cornea becomes continuous with the sclera is known as the corneal limbus. Measurements of the cornea are as follows: vertical 10.6 mm; horizontal 11.5 mm; and thickness 0.6 mm centrally and 1.0 mm peripherally. The centre of the cornea measures approximately 0.5–0.6 mm and the periphery of the cornea measures about 0.7 mm. The thinness of the cornea is significant and must be considered when removing central corneal foreign bodies. The cornea has five layers from the outermost to the innermost such as epithelium, Bowman's membrane, stroma, Descemet's membrane, endothelium.
