Corneal debridement is the careful removal of damaged, diseased, or infected tissue from the cornea. It’s a common procedure in eye care, especially for infections like fungal keratitis.
Why it’s done:
- Improves drug penetration: Meds can reach deeper layers better.
- Diagnostic: Tissue can be tested to identify the pathogen.
- Therapeutic: Removes infected tissue to stop spread.
How it’s done:
- Numbing: Anesthetic eye drops are used to prevent pain.
- Sterile instruments: A spatula, blade, or cotton swab is used to gently scrape the cornea.
- Microscope guidance: Often done under a slit-lamp or operating microscope.
- Cleaning: After scraping, the area may be irrigated.
- Medication: Antifungal, antibacterial, or antiviral drops are applied afterward.
It’s usually quick (minutes) and done in a clinic or minor operating room.