Exposure keratopathy

Exposure keratopathy (also known as exposure keratitis) is medical condition affecting the cornea of eyes. It can lead to corneal ulceration and permanent loss of vision due to corneal opacity. 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 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 occurs. rdf:langString