Because the cornea is as smooth and clear as glass but is strong and durable, it helps the eye in two ways: It helps to shield the rest of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful matter. The cornea shares this protective task with the eyelids, the eye socket, tears, and the sclera, or white part of the eye. read more
The cornea is the transparent part of the eye that covers the front portion of the eye. It covers the pupil (the opening at the center of the eye), iris (the colored part of the eye), and anterior chamber (the fluid-filled inside of the eye). The cornea's main function is to refract, or bend, light. read more
The epithelium is the cornea’s outermost layer. Its primary functions are to: block the passage into the eye of foreign material, such as dust, water, and bacteria; and. provide a smooth surface to absorb oxygen and nutrients from tears, which are then distributed to the other layers of the cornea. read more