cornea
n.n. the clear, outer layer of the eye that helps you see. It acts like a window to protect the inside of your eye.
n. the transparent, dome-shaped outer layer of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. It is responsible for refracting light as it enters the eye.
The doctor checked the health of my cornea during the eye exam.
After the surgery, the patient's cornea healed quickly, allowing her to see clearly without glasses.
The cornea is the primary refractive surface of the eye, and its curvature is essential for focusing light precisely onto the retina.
From Latin cornea tela (“horny tissue”), from cornu (“horn”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 18, 2026