cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior see eye illustration

corneal

ˈkȯr-nē-əl 

adjective

Examples of cornea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sitting on his living room couch this week, Rodriguez said doctors told him the projectile that hit him in his eye damaged his iris, cornea and lens. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026

The two also conducted an ocular examination on one of Cardman's eyes, to assess how her retina, cornea, and lens have been affected by microgravity. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026

Some of these drops, especially the chlorhexidine, can cause intense pain due to toxic effects on the cornea, adding to the agony the parasite is already causing — hence a need for new treatments, Lorenzo-Morales added. —Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026

There was a piece of grass in the same cornea — not embedded in the scar tissue, but broken off in the healthy cornea beside it. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin (short for cornea tēla "horny web," cornea tunica "horny covering," translating Greek kerātoeidḕs chitṓn), from feminine of Latin corneus "horny" — more at corneous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and lets light through to the interior

corneal

-nē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior

corneal

-əl 

adjective