The normal cornea is avascular except for small capillary loops at the periphery. In pathological states, vessels can invade the cornea as a defense mechanism. Vascularization interferes with corneal transparency. There are two types of corneal vascularization - superficial and deep. Superficial vessels are arranged in an arborizing pattern below the epithelium and trace back to conjunctival vessels. Deep vessels originate from anterior ciliary arteries in the stroma and appear as straight vessels that do not trace back beyond the limbus. Common causes of deep vascularization include interstitial keratitis, disciform keratitis, deep ulcers, burns, and grafts. Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause and using corticosteroids

1. OCULAR DISEASE
Corneal vascularisation

2. VASCULARIZATION OF
CORNEA
• Normal cornea is avascular except for
small capillary loops which are present
in the periphery for about 1 mm.
• In pathological states, it can be invaded
by vessels as a defence mechanism
against the disease or injury.
• Vascularization interferes with corneal
transparency

3. VASCULARIZATION OF CORNEA

4. Pathogenesis
• Vasoformative stimulus (chemical
factor) released during pathological
states, there occurs proliferation of
vessels which invade from the limbus;
• When compactness of corneal tissue is
loosened due to oedema.

5. Clinico-etiological features
1. Superficial corneal vascularization
2. Deep vascularization.

6. Corneal vascularization
A, superficial
B, terminal loop type
C, brush type
D, umbel type

7. 1. Superficial corneal
vascularization.
• In it vessels are arranged usually in an
arborising pattern, present below the
epithelial layer and their continuity can
be traced with the conjunctival vessels.
• Common causes are:
trachoma, phlyctenular kerato-
conjunctivitis, superficial corneal ulcers
and rosacea keratitis.

8. Pannus
• When extensive superficial
vascularization is associated with white
cuff of cellular infiltration, it is termed as
pannus.

9. 2. Deep vascularization.
• In it the vessels are generally derived
from anterior ciliary arteries and lie in
the corneal stroma.
• These vessels are usually straight, not
anastomosing and their continuity
cannot be traced beyond the limbus.
• Deep vessels may be arranged as
terminal loops, brush, parasol, umbel,
network or interstitial arcade.

10. Corneal vascularization
A, superficial
B, terminal loop type
C, brush type
D, umbel type

11. Common causes
• Interstitial keratitis
• Disciform keratitis
• Deep corneal ulcer
• Chemical burns
• Sclerosing keratitis
• Corneal grafts.

12. Treatment
• Vascularization may be prevented by
timely and adequate treatment of the
causative conditions.
• Corticosteroids may have
vasoconstrictive and suppressive effect
on permeability of capillaries.