The cornea is a dome-shaped surface and transparent. It accounts for a large part of the focusing power of the eye. A corneal transplant surgery happens to be a surgical procedure that replaces all or part of your damaged cornea with healthy corneal tissue from a donor.
One can reduce pain, improve the appearance of their damaged/diseased cornea, and restore vision by getting this surgery. Most corneal transplant procedures are successful. However, there are few risks associated with this procedure; the major one being the rejection of the donor cornea. And the type of corneal transplant one receives depends on the extent of the damage and which layer of the cornea is damaged.
Layers of Cornea
- The cornea consists of five layers.
- The outermost layer of the cornea is called the epithelium, which protects the cornea and focuses light.
- Bowman’s layer is a very thin layer that exists between the epithelium and the stroma.
- The third layer, the stroma, helps with cornea strengthening.
- The Descemet’s membrane is a very thin layer separating stroma from the endothelium.
- The innermost cornea layer, the endothelium is the innermost cornea layer. The cells present in this year are responsible for draining fluid out of the stroma.
Why Does One Get a Corneal Transplant?
The ultimate aim of this surgery is to get eye relief or boost a person’s sight. Some of the best corneal transplant surgeons in the UAE could provide you with their professional expertise and learning regarding this.
Sometimes, the cornea suffers minor or severe injuries. The minor injuries, like small scratches, heal on their own. But deeper injuries lead to vision issues and scarring.
- The corneal transplant could help treat a variety of issues like:
- An outward bulging cornea (keratoconus)
- Scarring of the cornea due to an injury or infection
- Clouding, thinning, or swelling or cornea
- Fuchs’ dystrophy
- Any complications caused by previous eye surgery
- Corneal ulcers
Preparing for A Corneal Transplant
The patient is required to meet with their surgeon before the surgery. You can consult with the best eye specialist in Dubai. They will examine your eye and discuss your medical history with you along with the medications you are taking. Sometimes, they might advise you to stop taking or reducing the dose of certain medications.
Keratoplasty – The Most Common Type of Corneal Transplant
Keratoplasty is the most common type of corneal transplant. There are two types of it:
- Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK)
- Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)
Usually, general or local anaesthesia is involved in the keratoplasty procedure. In the case of local anaesthesia, a sedative is given to the patient.
Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK)
In penetrating keratoplasty, all layers of the cornea are replaced. The surgeon exposes the eyes. Stitches or a device called a scleral fixation ring is used to keep the eye from mobbing. The cornea is measured to determine the size of the donor’s corneal tissue that is going to replace the cornea. The corneal button is then sewn onto the recipient’s eye, which is covered with a pad or plastic shield.
Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)
Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), is one of the many endothelial keratoplasties. This corneal transplant procedure replaces the cornea’s endothelium. Multiple incisions are made to the person’s cornea. The failing endothelium and the Descemet’s membrane is removed, leaving healthy cornea layers just the way they are. The innermost layers of the donor’s corneal tissue are removed, taking healthy endothelium and its attached DM.
These layers are then inserted under the recipient’s healthy cornea layers via the incisions made earlier. Then, a bubble of sulfur hexafluoride is injected into the sire to ensure that the Descemet’s membrane fuses with the recipient’s eye.
What to Expect After Corneal Transplant?
As corneal transplant is an outpatient surgery, patients can go home the same day. However, someone should drive them home due to grogginess after anaesthesia and also vision issues. Sometimes, the surgery affects the vision initially. So, the patients should arrange for someone to pick them up from the hospital.
Some people are given general anaesthesia to help them sleep during the surgery. Or, local anaesthesia is injected into the eye. This way, the person will be up during the duration of the surgery but will not feel any pain. The doctors may call you up the next day to follow up after the surgery, and see the healing process.
Corneal Transplant Recovery Period
Patients must follow their doctor’s advice during the recovery period. This is going to include:
- Avoid rubbing or straining the eyes in any way
- Covering the eye
- Using eye drops as per the prescription
Your recovery time depends on the type of transplant you are getting. Also, your eye can take about a year to fully recover. Only the doctor can advise you regarding resuming regular activities.
