The cornea is the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye. Its health and clarity are cirtical to good vision.
A Cornea Transplant is the replacement of a damaged or diseased cornea. It is one of the most common and successful of all transplant procedures. During the procedure, part of the cloudy or damaged cornea is replaced with a graft from a donated healthy cornea, which comes from an eye bank. Vision can often be greatly improved.
Reasons for Corneal Transplant
Cornea transplants are most often performed to replace cloudy or swollen corneal tissue with clear, healthy donor tissue. Some common reasons for having a cornea transplant include: • Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy, in which hereditary disease of the cornea’s inner lining causes swelling of the cornea and blurred vision • Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy (PBK), in which damage to the cornea’s inner lining causes swelling of the cornea and blurred vision • Keratoconus, in which the cornea develops an irregular shape and scarring, resulting in distorted and blurred vision • Infections, especially due to herpes or fungus, which result in corneal scars • Eye injury
These conditions can have profound changes in visual clarity, leaving a cornea transplant as the only viable option for restoring clearer vision.
The difference between these two types of transplant is that penetrating keratoplasty is a full-thickness corneal transplant, while lamellar keratoplasty is a partial thickness transplant. Lamellar keratoplasty is designed to retain one’s own healthy corneal tissue, while replacing only the diseased or damaged part of the cornea. For many years, penetrating keratoplasty was the only surgical option for most corneal conditions, and it remains an excellent option for many conditions. However, recent advances in surgical technique and instrumentation now enable lamellar keratoplasty to be performed for certain corneal conditions, allowing smaller wounds, faster recovery, and more predictable outcomes. Endothelial Keratoplasty (EK) and Descemet-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK or DSEK) are examples of lamellar keratoplasty. Risks of Cornea Transplant
Cornea transplant is the most common and most successfully transplanted tissue in the body, but it is not without risks. The risks of cornea transplant include, but are not limited to:
Horizon Eye Care has received recognition for our work in the area of corneal transplantation. Click here to see a WCNC 6 News Special video. All of our cornea specialists have been involved in national clinical trials that have contributed to advancements in the field of corneal transplantation, and all have experience in both penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty techniques.
Our cornea and external disease ophthalmologists are:
Cornea transplant is an excellent option to restore vision for may people with a variety of corneal conditions. If you are suffering vision loss due to cornea injury or disease, schedule a cornea transplant consultation today with Horizon Eye Care in Charlotte, North Carolina to learn whether this treatment can improve your vision in the future.
