You searched for: “scleras
sclera (s) (noun), scleras (pl)
The tough, fibrous, outermost layer or covering membrane of the eyeballs: The sclera protects the inner structures of the eyes from injury.

At the front of the eyes, the scleras form transparent, domed structures called the corneas which have curved surfaces that serve to focus light coming into the eyes.

As strong as they are, the scleras can be penetrated by sharp objects.

Disease of the sclera is uncommon, however, inflammation of the scleras can occur, usually with a collagen or connective tissue disease caused by rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation in which the joints of the fingers, wrists, toes, or other parts of the body become painful, swollen, stiff, and, in severe cases, deformed), systemic lupus crythematosus (chronic disease that causes inflammation of connective tissues), periarteritis nodosa (disease of small and medium-sized arteries), scleroderma (a disease that can affect many organs and tissues in the body), dermatomycositis (a sometimes fatal disease in which the muscles and skin become inflamed causing weakness of the muscles and a skin rash), and other less clearly defined physical disorders.

This entry is located in the following unit: sclero-, scler- (page 1)