Corneal
Transplantation
What is corneal transplantation?
Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting or keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves replacing a damaged or diseased cornea with a healthy cornea from a donor. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye that helps focus light onto the retina, allowing us to see clearly. Corneal transplantation is performed when the cornea becomes cloudy, scarred, or distorted due to various conditions, such as infections, injuries, degenerative diseases, or genetic disorders.
The success of corneal transplantation depends on various factors, including the patient's overall eye health, the reason for the transplantation, the quality of the donor cornea, and postoperative care. After the surgery, patients need to follow a regimen of eye drops, protect the eye from trauma, and attend regular follow-up appointments to monitor the healing process.
What are the different techniques?
Mr Panthagani has been trained in the latest techniques of corneal transplantation currently available. These include:
-
Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP):
-
In this procedure, the full thickness of the damaged cornea is removed, and a healthy donor cornea is stitched in its place.
-
PKP is used to treat severe corneal scarring, corneal dystrophies, and keratoconus (a condition where the cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped).
-
-
Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) / Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK):
-
These techniques are used to treat endothelial cell dysfunction, which can cause corneal swelling and clouding.
-
Only the back layer of the cornea, called the endothelium, is replaced with a thin layer of donor tissue. DMEK involves the transplantation of an even thinner layer compared to DSAEK.
-
-
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK):
-
DALK involves replacing the outer layers of the cornea while preserving the innermost layer (endothelium).
-
It's used for conditions affecting the front layers of the cornea, like keratoconus or corneal scars that don't involve the endothelium.
-
What are the risks?
Corneal transplantation can significantly improve vision and relieve discomfort in individuals with severe corneal conditions. However, there are risks associated with the surgery, including infection, graft rejection (the body's immune system attacking the donor tissue), and astigmatism (an uneven curvature of the cornea). The success rates and outcomes vary depending on the specific condition being treated and the type of transplantation technique used. Mr Panthagani will evaluate the individual case and recommend the most appropriate treatment.