Age-related changes in the cornea.
The optometrist observes and must distinguish between physiologic and pathologic changes in the cornea. This paper deals with normal, physiologic age-related corneal changes. Age-related changes are those that occur over the entire life span, not merely in senescence. They include changes in corneal curvature, toricity, diameter, asphericity, thickness, tactile sensitivity, and a variety of senescent changes. The senescent changes of the cornea include a reduction in epithelial luster, dellen, microcystic dystrophy, the Hudson-Stahli line, crocodile shagreen, the white limbus girdle of Vogt, an increase in stromal relucency, cornea farinata, arcus senilis, Hassall-Henle warts, guttata, a reduction in endothelial cell count and Krukenberg's spindle.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001112:Arcus Senilis / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology