What is the Cornea?

The cornea is the clear front part of your eye that helps you see.

Think of it like a window, the window to your eye! Just as a window lets light come in so you can see inside a room, the cornea lets light come into your eye so you can see things around you.

The cornea is smooth and round, kind of like the top of a bowl. When light comes from something you’re looking at, like your favorite toy or a cookie, it goes through the cornea first before it reaches the rest of your eye. If the cornea is healthy and clear, it helps focus that light perfectly on your retina (the part of your eye that turns light into pictures).

If the cornea gets scratched, like when you rub your eye with a rough towel, it can feel sore, kind of like having sand in your eye. But most of the time, it heals quickly and lets you see clearly again!