Whats Corneal Transplantation Surgery?
Corneal Transplantation Surgery (keratoplasty) is a surgical procedure to replace cornea with corneal tissue from a donor. Cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped surface of your eye. Technically it is like a passage through which light enters eye and is responsible for clear vision.
What’s Cornea?
The cornea is your eye’s clear, protective outer layer. Along with the sclera (the white of your eye), it serves as a barrier against dirt, germs, and other Irritating particles. If your cornea is damaged by disease, infection, or an injury, Leads to scar affecting vision scars can affect your vision.
Types of Corneal Transplantation Surgery:
. Penetrating keratoplasty (PK)
a full-thickness cornea transplant. Your surgeon cuts through the entire thickness of the abnormal or diseased cornea to remove a small button-sized disk of corneal tissue. A special instrument is used to make this precise circular cut. The donor cornea, cut to fit, is placed in the opening. Your surgeon then uses stitches (sutures) to fix the new cornea into place. The stitches might be removed at a later visit by your eye doctor.
. Endothelial keratoplasty (EK)
In this method diseased tissues are removed from the back corneal layers, including the endothelium and a thin layer of tissue that protects the endothelium from injury and infection (Descemet membrane). Donor tissue replaces the removed tissue. There are two types of endothelial keratoplasty. The first type, called Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK), uses donor tissue to replace about one-third of the cornea. The second type, called Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), uses a much thinner layer of donor tissue. The tissue used in DMEK is extremely thin and fragile. This procedure is more challenging than DSEK and is commonly used.
. Anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK)
Lamellar keratoplasty is an operation in which diseased corneal tissue is removed and replaced by lamellar corneal tissue from a donor, The determining factor for utilizing each surgery is depth of corneal damage. In SALK the front layers of cornea is replaced & all healthy stroma & endothelium are left intact, leaving the healthy stroma and endothelium intact. Deep anterior lamellar transplant (DALK) procedure is used when cornea damage extends deeper into the stroma. Healthy tissue of donor is then attached (grafted) to replace the removed portion.
• Artificial cornea transplantation (keratoprosthetsis).
In some cases, if people aren’t eligible for a cornea transplant from a Cornea doner. they might receive an artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis).
! be aware of that before cornea transplant surgery Corneal donation process is fulfilled.
Who needs corneal transplant ?
Your doctor, may need to treat the underlying cause of the damage to your cornea. If the damage is severe enough, you might need corneal transplantation to restore your Vision. Conditions that might require corneal transplantation include: Severe Corneal Edema, dense corneal opacities, keratoconus, some Hereditary corneal diseases.
Risks Of Corneal Transplantation
- Eye infection
- Pressure increments within the eyeball (glaucoma)
- Problems with the stitches used to secure the donor cornea
- Rejection of the donor cornea
- Bleeding
- Retinal problems, such as retinal detachment or swelling
- Symptoms of corneal transplant rejection
- photophobia.
- redness (may be perilimbal)
- epiphora.
- blurred vision.
- discomfort or pain.
How to prevent Rejection of the donor cornea?
Prevention of corneal graft rejection lies with minimizing host and donor incompatibility by tissue matching and suppressing the host immune response. Management of corneal graft rejection consists of early detection and aggressive therapy with corticosteroids.
Medical advice for before and cornea transplant surgery
. Before cornea transplant surgery:
Your surgery may be cancelled if you have an eye infection, your eye is swollen, or there are problems with the donor cornea. Follow your doctor’s instructions about when to bathe or shower before your surgery. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish. Take off all jewellery and piercings.
. After cornea transplant surgery
Receive medications. Eyedrops and, sometimes, oral medications immediately after cornea transplant and during recovery will help control infection, swelling and pain. Eyedrops to suppress the immune system help prevent cornea rejections.
Wear eye protection. Eye shields or glasses protect your eye as it heals.
Lie on your back. Depending on the type of transplant, you might have to do this for a while after surgery to help the new tissue stay in place.
Avoid injury, Plan to take it easy after your cornea transplant, and slowly work your way up to your normal activities, including exercise. Don’t rub or press on your eye. For the rest of your life, you’ll need to take extra precautions to avoid harming your eye.
Return for frequent follow-up exams. Expect to see your eye doctor regularly in the year after surgery to monitor your progress and look for complications.
successful rate of a cornea transplant
Cornea transplants are performed routinely and have a reasonable success rate. In fact, cornea grafts are the most successful of all tissue Transplantation. Cornea transplant rejection can be reversed in 9 out of 10 cases if detected early enough.
Do's and don'ts after cornea transplant surgery:
Why Smart Behan?
Smart Behan is the main platform to provide medical information to address your health issue. Our network introduces best hospital and centers in iran offering high quality services and expert Best Doctors and Surgeons in Iran as well as booking appointment. You can manage your medical travel. Smart Behan accompanies you from airport to airport handling Welcoming, transportation, translation, medical treatment and last not the least follow up when you are back to home.
Smart Behan can also make an appointment with our Ophthalmic Surgeon, Dr. Seyed Hamidreza Jahadi Hosseini And Dr. Ahmad Shojaei Baghini, for your consultation and surgery.
Dear ones, you can click here to choose our treatment packages.
6 Comments
zoritoler imol
I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I noticed this on google .
graliontorile
I am lucky that I discovered this blog, just the right info that I was searching for! .
zoritoler imol
I really like your writing style, great information, thanks for posting.
sheykhyosef
How much does corneal transplant surgery cost in Iran?
bashir
It was a really comprehensive article. Thank you for your useful information.
habib
I have been to Iran before and I was very satisfied with your company’s services
also The article was complete and excellent