The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped surface of your eye that focuses light. When corneal disease or injury cause clouding or distortion of vision, a corneal transplant may be the best solution.
The first step in a corneal transplant is to find a donor cornea. Currently there is no wait for a donor cornea in the state of Washington through the Northwest Lions Eye Bank. The donated cornea is thoroughly tested for infectious disease, and for its suitability for transplantation.
In standard corneal transplant surgery, the entire cornea is removed and replaced with a healthy donor cornea. The new cornea is sewn in place with a very fine suture (finer than a human hair). The suture stays in for months or even years until the eye heals properly (removing the suture is quite simple and can easily be done in our office).
Depending on your situation, your Clarus physician may prefer a new type of corneal transplant, known as Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK). With DSAEK only the diseased portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with partial donor cornea. DSAEK has these advantages over traditional corneal transplant surgery:
- Faster visual recovery.
- Less chance of astigmatism since there are no sutures.
- Eye is much stronger and more resistant to injury.
- Surgery time is quicker.
Even with a fairly high success rate, problems can develop, such as rejection of the new cornea, corneal swelling, and infection. Warning signs of a problem are decreased vision, increased redness of the eye, increased pain, and increased sensitivity to light. If any of these last for more than six hours, you should immediately call your ophthalmologist. Most complications can be successfully treated if medication is administered at the early sign of symptoms
Your Clarus surgeon will use the latest diagnostic procedures to determine which procedure is best for you.
Corneal transplants are performed by Jay Rudd, M.D.