Corneal Transplant
The cornea is the front, clear window of the eye that allow light to enter and focus on the retinal nerve tissue in the back of the eye. There are many conditions that may cause such extensive damage to the cornea that it will require a corneal transplantation. Corneal transplant surgery requires the removal of the diseased and damaged cornea and replacing with a healthy, cadaver donor tissue from an eye bank. We have developed an excellent relationship with Miracles in Sight which is one of the world’s most renowned centers.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE MORE COMMON CONDITIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT:
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Fuchs corneal dystrophy
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Keratoconus
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Corneal Scarring
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Bullous Keratopathy
Some of the conditions may be treated with less invasive procedures if it is caught in an early stage of the disease or the severity level of the disease is less advanced. Keratoconus can also be treated with corneal collagen cross-linking, and corneal scarring can also be treated with phototherapeutic keratectomy. We offer a variety of corneal transplant techniques to best accommodate your exact condition. New technology with transplant surgery allows for the surgeon to perform partial-thickness procedures which will replace only the damaged components of the cornea rather than the entire tissue. These advanced techniques offer lower risk procedures, quicker recovery times and improved outcomes. Here are some of the corneal transplant options that we provide at our center:
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is a procedure that replaces all of the top layers of the cornea but leaves the healthy inner lining of the cornea behind. This procedure may be done in the setting of corneal scarring or keratoconus where it is too far advanced to use less invasive laser treatments or corneal collagen cross-linking.
Penetrating keratoplasty is a procedure that replaces the entire cornea. This for cases where damage is present throughout all layers of the cornea.
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is a procedure that replaces all of the top layers of the cornea but leaves the healthy inner lining of the cornea behind. This procedure may be done in the setting of corneal scarring or keratoconus where it is too far advanced to use less invasive laser treatments or corneal collagen cross-linking.
Endothelial keratoplasty is a procedure in which only the damaged inner lining of the cornea is replaced, and the top healthy layers of the cornea remain intact. It is commonly used in the setting of Fuchs corneal dystrophy and bullous keratopathy.
Keratoprosthesis is procedure that uses a prosthetic cornea made out of a plastic-like material in the center in combination with donor corneal tissue around the edges. It is reserved for cases of severe disease that are not candidates for other transplant options.
Dr. Rush can discuss with you the most appropriate surgery options for your specific scenario.