Corneal Transplant
Condition:
Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to blurry vision.
Treatments:
Corneal transplant, also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure in which a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced with a healthy cornea from a donor. Here are five types of corneal transplant treatments:
Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP):
PKP involves removing the entire central portion of the damaged cornea and replacing it with a clear, healthy donor cornea. This procedure is used for a wide range of corneal conditions, including severe infections, scars, and certain types of corneal degenerations.
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK):
In DALK, only the front layers of the cornea (epithelium, Bowman’s layer, and stroma) are replaced. The back layers of the patient’s cornea are left intact. This procedure is used when the endothelium (inner layer of the cornea) is healthy and functioning properly, and the damage is limited to the front layers.
Endothelial Keratoplasty:
There are two main types of endothelial keratoplasty procedures:
Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK): This procedure involves removing the endothelium along with a thin layer of corneal stroma and replacing it with a donor cornea that includes the endothelium and a portion of the stroma. DSEK is used for conditions like Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy.
Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK): This is a more advanced form of endothelial keratoplasty where only the Descemet’s membrane and endothelium are replaced. It requires a higher level of surgical skill and is used for specific cases of endothelial dysfunction.
Keratoprosthesis (Artificial Cornea):
In cases where a traditional corneal transplant is not feasible, a keratoprosthesis may be implanted. This is an artificial cornea made of biocompatible materials. It’s used in severe cases of corneal disease or after multiple failed corneal transplants.
Automated Lamellar Therapeutic Keratoplasty (ALTK):
ALTK is a technique that combines laser technology with corneal transplantation. It’s used to treat certain corneal diseases and conditions that affect the anterior layers of the cornea.