Corneal transplant surgery or keratoplasty is a surgical procedure using which eye specialists can replace your cornea. During this treatment, the doctor removes the damaged portion of your cornea and replaces it with healthy corneal tissue from a donor. After undergoing this surgery, many patients get their clear vision restored and are able to lead a better life.
What is Cornea & Why is it Important?
The cornea is a clear dome-shaped thin layer that protects the eye against dirt, germs, damage of UV rays and other harmful materials. It assists the eye lens to focus the light that enters the eye, so you can see clearly. Three main layers of tissues with two inner layers of tissues make up your cornea.
Who needs a Corneal Transplant?
People who have a damaged cornea usually experience eye pain, blurry and cloudy vision. If you’re suffering from such conditions you must immediately visit any ophthalmologist at a reputed clinic such as Eye Consultant to get your eyes examined.
If you have eye conditions that have damaged your cornea and your ability to see clearly, you may require a corneal transplant. Some common eye conditions that can lead to corneal transplant include:
- Fuchs’ dystrophy is a disease in the internal cells of the cornea idea. It causes swelling of the cornea which causes blurry vision.
- Keratoconus is a disease that changes the shape of the cornea. During this disease, the cornea becomes cone-shaped instead of dome-shaped.
- Certain eye infections can also damage your cornea permanently.
- Traumatic injuries can penetrate and scar the cornea.
- Bullous keratopathy that is a blister-like swelling of the cornea can cause discomfort, pain and result in blurred vision.
- Keratitis an infection of the cornea caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can also cause inflammation of the eyes.
- Complications because of LASIK surgery can also lead to corneal transplants.
Types of Corneal Transplant
The corneal transplants are of the following types:
Full Thickness Corneal Transplant
Penetrating keratoplasty during which all layers of the cornea get replaced is known as a full-thickness corneal transplant. People who have severe corneal damage usually undergo this surgical procedure. During this procedure, the new cornea is sewed onto your eyes using stitches that are thinner than hair. This surgery requires long recovery time.
Partial Thickness Corneal Transplant
During the process of DALK (Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty), doctors use air to lift off and separate the outside thinner and inside thicker layers of the cornea. During a partial corneal transplant, the only thick middle layer of your cornea gets replaced. People that have keratoconus or a corneal scar that is only superficial use this surgery to fix their vision problems. The healing time for this surgery is less than a full-thickness transplant.
Endothelial Keratoplasty
The majority of people that undergo keratoplasty for corneal transplant have damaged the innermost layer of their cornea that is the endothelium. You can easily get this keratoplasty at any corneal transplant surgery Dubai clinic and get your endothelium replaced.
During this surgery, the ophthalmologists selectively replace only the damaged layers of your cornea leaving the healthy ones intact.