What Does My Cornea Do?

The cornea is the outermost layer of your eye. Its primary function is to protect your eye. In fact, the cornea shields the inner eye from germs, dust and damaging ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths in sunlight. But protection isn’t its only purpose.

Your cornea also bends or refracts light onto the retina at the back of your eyeball. This refractive ability contributes the largest percentage — about 70 percent — of your eye’s focusing power. By focusing light into your eye, the cornea contributes to its overall refractive power.

When you suffer from corneal disease or any injury, an early diagnosis helps you get effective treatment. At Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (VRMNY) eye surgery centers, the Surgical procedures, such as keratoplasty or a cornea transplant

What Are the Types of Cornea Transplant Surgery?

Because it has no blood vessels of its own, the cornea relies on tears and the aqueous humor in your eye’s anterior chamber for nutrients. The cornea has five layers: the epithelium, Bowman’s layer, the stroma, Descemet’s membrane and the endothelium. Any disease or injury to these layers can lead to vision problems.

Cornea transplant is a surgical procedure to remove a part or all of a damaged cornea. Then, your eye doctor replaces it with healthy corneal tissue or a graft from a donor. Your eye doctor removes a cornea if it’s diseased or you’ve suffered serious eye damage. The main types of corneal transplants include:

• Penetrating keratoplasty. This procedure is a full-thickness cornea transplant. Your eye surgeon removes the entire center part of the damaged cornea and replaces it with a healthy piece of a donor’s cornea.
• Endothelial keratoplasty. Your ophthalmologist may use this type of cornea transplant if the innermost layer of your cornea, called the Descemet’s membrane, is damaged. During this eye procedure, your doctor removes damaged endothelial tissue and replaces it with healthy donor tissue. An air bubble keeps the donor cornea in position, reducing the need for stitches. Your eye doctor can choose a:
  • Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with a thick donor cornea
  • Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with a thin donor cornea
• Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. Your eye doctor may recommend this type of cornea transplant if the innermost layer of your cornea is healthy with damage limited to the middle and outer layers. This partial thickness cornea transplant involves removing the middle and outer layers of your cornea and replacing it with healthy corneal tissue.

Your ophthalmologist chooses the best cornea transplant procedure for you after a careful diagnosis. These procedures have delivered impressive results that have improved vision and reduced the severe symptoms associated with corneal disease. VRMNY — with locations in Manhattan, Westchester and Brooklyn — has the best cornea transplant doctors and the latest medical equipment.

Who’s a Good Candidate for Cornea Transplant Surgery?

Eye doctors rely on corneal transplants for a variety of conditions and diseases. The conditions that make you a good candidate for a cornea transplant surgery include:

• Corneal swelling
• Thinning, clouding or swelling of your cornea
• Complications caused by infections
• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Sensitivity to light
• Corneal diseases, such as keratoconus
• Hereditary conditions, such as Fuchs’ dystrophy
• The thinning of your cornea
• Loss of vision
• Any scarring of your cornea
• A scratched cornea
• An eye injury
• Graft rejection after a previous cornea transplant
• Complications of cataract surgery, leading to corneal failure

If you have any of these symptoms and you have good overall health, consult the best eye doctors in NYC at VRMNY. After diagnostic imaging tests and a review of your medical history, your eye doctor determines if you’re a suitable candidate for eye cornea transplant.

How Is Cornea Transplant Surgery Performed?

Your cornea transplant doctor follows the diagnosis to determine the most appropriate cornea transplant for the best results. Each surgical procedure may be slightly different to account for your condition, but most follow similar steps, including:

• The procedure starts with a physical examination. Afterward, you’re given local anesthesia with a sedative or general anesthesia to prevent any pain and discomfort. To keep your eye open, your surgical team uses an eyelid speculum. Special eye drops help keep your eye moist during the procedure.
• Cornea transplant. Your eye doctor uses specialized equipment, such as a laser or a trephine, to cut a circular piece of the cornea from your diseased or injured cornea. Then, your doctor transplants a donor cornea into your eye. Depending on the procedure and the size of the transplanted cornea, your ophthalmologist may use sutures to keep the cornea in position.
• Post-surgery care. Your doctor provides post-surgery care procedures and sets a date for a follow-up. If both eyes are damaged, your doctor performs the cornea transplant on each eye at separate appointments. You may also have to spend a night in the hospital if you had a penetrating keratoplasty.

The post-operative care instructions differ, depending on your procedure. Your eye doctor always advises against rubbing your eye and avoiding strenuous activities or lifting during the first few weeks. Try to avoid irritants like smoke and keep shower water from getting into your eye for several weeks. An eye patch protects your eye. Your ophthalmologist provides steroid or antibiotic eye drops for daily use.

If you’re suffering vision problems, get a diagnosis from the best cornea transplant doctors in NYC. The ophthalmologists at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York have the skills and technology to perform vision-saving eye surgeries. Their reputable eye specialists have published extensively and developed leading-edge eye procedures. Contact VRMNY today to schedule your appointment.