Why can fungal infection of the cornea leave a lasting scar?

Fungal infections of the cornea can leave a lasting scar because the body’s natural healing and repair process often cannot fully regenerate the complex, original architecture of the corneal tissue after significant damage.12

When the cornea is injured or infected by fungi, the resulting tissue destruction may be too substantial for simple regeneration. In such cases, the body initiates a repair process where fibroblasts produce collagen to create a framework of connective tissue. As this process progresses, the area is replaced by densely packed collagen, forming a fibrous scar. While antifungal treatments are typically effective at eliminating the infection, they do not reverse this structural replacement, often leaving behind a dense, permanent opacity that can impair vision.12