The limbus is the narrow ring, about 1-2 mm wide, where the clear cornea meets the white sclera. It houses the corneal epithelial stem cells that renew the corneal surface. Deep to it lie the aqueous drainage structures, the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm.
| Location | Junction of the cornea and sclera at the front of the eyeball |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Long ciliary nerves |
| Blood Supply | Anterior ciliary arteries (limbal arcades) |
Maintains a healthy, clear corneal surface by supplying new epithelial cells and acting as a barrier against conjunctival overgrowth. It also overlies the eye's aqueous outflow pathway.
The limbus is the main surgical landmark for cataract and glaucoma operations. Loss of limbal stem cells from chemical burns, chronic inflammation or genetic disease lets conjunctiva grow over the cornea, causing scarring and vision loss. A red ring of dilated vessels around the limbus (ciliary flush) suggests deeper eye inflammation such as anterior uveitis or keratitis.
Loss of the limbal stem cells, most often after alkali burns, so the corneal surface cannot heal and becomes covered by vascularised conjunctiva. Treatment may need limbal stem cell transplantation.
A wedge of fibrovascular tissue growing from the conjunctiva across the limbus onto the cornea, linked to ultraviolet exposure. Large ones can distort vision and need excision.
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