The anatomy and physiology of cornea

Abstract

Cornea is an avascular, transparent tissue that is an important component of the ocular refractive system. It is one of the most densely innervated tissues in the body. It consists of five layers: epithelium, stroma, and endothelium and two interface layers consisting of Bowman’s membrane and Descemet’s membrane. Corneal stroma is composed of cellular (keratocytes) and extracellular components. Cornea is an immune-privileged tissue due to the absence of blood and lymphatic vessels. Although normal cornea is an avascular, many conditions can cause neovascularization, scarring, and corneal blindness.