Keratopathy

Keratopathy is a disease that is characterized by changes in the structure and function of the cornea of ​​the eye. The cornea is the outer layer of the eye that protects it from damage and provides vision. Keratopathy can be caused by various factors, such as infections, injuries, metabolic disorders, age-related changes and other diseases.

Symptoms of keratopathy may include dry eyes, irritation, redness, pain, and decreased visual acuity. As the disease progresses, the cornea may become cloudy, which can lead to vision loss.

Treatment for keratopathy depends on the cause of the disease and may include medications, surgery, or vision correction with contact lenses or glasses. It is important to promptly consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment of keratopathy to avoid serious complications.

Overall, keratopathy is a serious condition that can lead to serious consequences for vision and quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations with an ophthalmologist and take measures to prevent and treat keratopathy.

Keratopathy

Keratopathy (Latin Keratopatia; Greek κέρας cornea + -o- Greek - (negative prefix) + παθήμα, ref. “disease”) is the collective name for dystrophic changes in the cornea in its anterior part (cornea). The concept of keratoplasts is also known as unstable corneal defects that appear after injuries, infectious diseases, surgical interventions or as a result of degenerative processes. Keratofilms differ from intraepithelial lesions in shape and borders, mobility, and response to epithelial scabs; clinically they are manifested by inflammatory changes and infiltrates of the anterolateral layers of the cornea. Keratolluses are also common in corneal chemical burns, since the surface of the damaged cornea is prone to recurrent chronic erosions.

In the International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision, the position “keratopathic diabetes” was added to section “E10” “Disorders that developed in the perinatal period”. According to ICD-11, it combined five old nosologies - dysplasia, non-progressive forms, as well as dystrophic categories of Coats disease; congenital corneal diseases; acquired changes in the cornea and ophthalmological complications of diabetic retinopathy, the initial stages of retinoocholaxia, corneal dystrophy with sclerosis of the cornea. The generalized group of intraepithelial neoplasia is designated by the symbols M714.01 - M719.9 in the heading “D30-D39 Benign neoplasms”.

The term “*keratopathy”* was previously nominative, mainly due to the generally accepted definitions in the popular scientific literature and in ophthalmological guidelines. In 1992, the American Academy of Ophthalmology approved the proposal and began using the term “corneal dystrophy” (retrospectively, “congenital corneal opacities”; until January 1, 1986, this term replaced the obsolete “corneal opacities”). In the Russian Federation, the correct name is “dystrophic disease of the cornea.” The term “borderline dystrophy” is increasingly being used, by analogy with those used for undifferentiated forms of cancer, but it is technically incorrect: there are absolutely dystrophic diseases, for example, “in children and the elderly,” and there are not even approximate degrees of their progression. In this case, the dystrophic status of the cornea is accurately determined only histologically, while the clinical picture can vary significantly over time.