Overview
Congenital cornea plana (CCP) is a rare eye condition that a person is born with. In this condition, the clear front surface of the eye — called the cornea — is flatter than normal. A healthy cornea has a curved shape that helps focus light onto the back of the eye. When the cornea is too flat, it cannot bend light properly, which leads to blurry or reduced vision. The condition may affect one eye or both eyes. People with cornea plana often have significant farsightedness (difficulty seeing things up close), and many also develop other eye problems such as a cloudy cornea (corneal opacity), a smaller-than-normal front chamber of the eye, and an increased risk of glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye). Some people may also have a smaller-than-normal iris or other structural eye differences. There are two main forms: a milder autosomal dominant form and a more severe autosomal recessive form. The recessive form tends to cause more serious vision problems and a greater risk of complications. Treatment focuses on correcting vision with glasses or contact lenses and monitoring for complications like glaucoma. There is no cure, but regular eye care can help protect vision and quality of life.
Key symptoms:
Flat cornea (the front of the eye is less curved than normal)Significant farsightedness (trouble seeing things up close)Blurry or reduced visionCloudy or hazy corneaSmaller-than-normal front chamber of the eyeIncreased risk of glaucoma (high eye pressure)Sensitivity to lightSmaller or abnormally shaped irisDifficulty with depth perceptionPossible nystagmus (involuntary eye movements) in severe cases
Variable
Can be inherited in different ways depending on the underlying gene
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Congenital cornea plana.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →No actively recruiting trials found for Congenital cornea plana at this time.
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Congenital cornea plana.
Community
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Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
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Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Which form of cornea plana does my child or I have — dominant or recessive — and what does that mean for the future?,How often should I have eye exams, and what specifically should be monitored at each visit?,What is my risk of developing glaucoma, and how will we watch for it?,Should other family members be tested for this condition?,Are glasses or contact lenses the best option for correcting my vision, or are there other choices?,At what point would a corneal transplant be considered, and what are the risks?,Are there any clinical trials or new treatments I should know about?
Common questions about Congenital cornea plana
What is Congenital cornea plana?
Congenital cornea plana (CCP) is a rare eye condition that a person is born with. In this condition, the clear front surface of the eye — called the cornea — is flatter than normal. A healthy cornea has a curved shape that helps focus light onto the back of the eye. When the cornea is too flat, it cannot bend light properly, which leads to blurry or reduced vision. The condition may affect one eye or both eyes. People with cornea plana often have significant farsightedness (difficulty seeing things up close), and many also develop other eye problems such as a cloudy cornea (corneal opacity),
At what age does Congenital cornea plana typically begin?
Typical onset of Congenital cornea plana is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Which specialists treat Congenital cornea plana?
2 specialists and care centers treating Congenital cornea plana are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.