The cornea has five layers: The outer layer is epithelium, the inner layer is endothelium, and the middle layer is stroma. Each layer is separated by a thin membrane—Bowman’s and Descemet’s membrane. The eye has epithelium is on the surface of the cornea; and on the surface of the retina, however, the surface of the retina is inside the eye.
Immortal pathogens have a predilection for types of tissue, i.e. epithelium, endothelium and stroma, no matter the tissue or organ attacked. Chlamydia pneumonia attacks corneal endothelium and impairs the endothelial pump controlling corneal hydration. Chlamydia trachoma and chlamydia psittacosis attack epithelium or endothelium; and chlamydia psittacosis can cause eye cancers, including ocular melanoma and MALT lymphoma. H-pylori attacks epithelium, creating a portal for pathogens, and burrows into stroma. Pathogens attacking epithelium (and refractive surgery) damage Bowman’s membrane; and pathogens attacking endothelium damage Descemet’s membrane, over time, making the stroma vulnerable to dehydration, degeneration, and thinning.
Corneal thinning diseases may be identified by the tissue attacked and the effect on corneal thickness. Some corneal thinning diseases are even named “endothelial dysfunction”, or by the name of the doctor who first described the thinning disease (Fuch’s corneal dystrophy). Corneal disease (and in retinal disease, “loose epithelium” or RPE), is strongly “associated” with co-morbid heart disease, arthritis, and intestinal disease, which are also strongly associated chlamydia pathogens and H-pylori.
The type of tissue damage in the eye is suggestive of the immortal pathogen(s) causing the eye disease.
