What Is Keratectomy Eye Surgery?

Keratectomy surgery is a corrective eye procedure to address cornea scarring or opacity. A top ophthalmologist may perform the procedure using traditional surgical tools or a laser device. The eye surgery improves your vision by smoothing an opaque or irregularly-shaped corneal epithelium. Your eye doctor uses one of several methods to create a smoother epithelium, which improves the functionality of your cornea, improving your vision.

Your cornea is the transparent piece in the front part of your eye that protects your eye from infection while focusing the light entering the eye. The cornea, together with the lens, refracts or bends light so that it hits your retina in perfect focus. Your cornea has five layers, which include from the outside:

• The epithelium
• Bowman’s layer
• The stroma
• Descemet’s membrane
• The endothelium

An injury or abrasions to your eye causes the cornea to lose its transparency. Because of the sensitivity of your cornea, find the best retina specialists in NYC to perform keratectomy. The ophthalmologists and retina specialists at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (VRMNY) have the skills and experience to perform cornea surgical procedures. This established eye practice has offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Westchester. The team also performs advanced laser surgeries to protect your vision.

What Are the Different Keratectomy Procedures?

Your eye doctor chooses a suitable keratectomy eye surgery procedure based on your individual diagnosis. Different keratectomy procedures address different problems with the cornea. The most common keratectomy eye surgeries include:

• Superficial keratectomy. This type of keratectomy surgery is performed to correct scarring or opacity on the anterior layers at the front of the cornea. The procedure removes any scarring or inflammation in the superficial cornea to leave a smoother ocular surface, which improves your vision.
• Phototherapeutic keratectomy. In this keratectomy surgery, your ophthalmologist uses an excimer laser to treat superficial corneal disorders. The procedure doesn’t reshape your cornea to improve your vision. Instead, the procedure addresses surface-level corneal disease. It isn’t intended to correct vision.
• Photorefractive keratectomy. This procedure is an eye surgery in which your eye doctor first removes the epithelium with a special solution or surgical device. Next, the doctor uses a laser to remove corneal tissue to be During recovery, you wear a special contact lens to protect the cornea as the new epithelial cells form.
• Lamellar keratectomy. For this keratectomy eye procedure, your eye doctor removes the epithelium that’s become diseased. After the removal, the doctor places a soft contact lens to minimize discomfort. Within a few days, a stronger, healthier epithelium grows to replace the diseased one.

An eye specialist can choose any of these eye procedures to correct defects in the cornea and improve your vision. Your eye specialist at VRMNY uses powerful diagnostic imaging equipment to reach a correct diagnosis. From the diagnosis, your doctor creates the best eye treatment plan for improved results.

Which Eye Conditions Does Keratectomy Surgery Treat?

Keratectomy surgery is effective for a wide range of corneal disorders. Your eye specialist chooses the keratectomy procedure that best treats you for conditions that include:

• Corneal dystrophies. Eye disorders that are caused by age or genetics usually develop abnormal material in your cornea. Types of corneal dystrophies include:
  • Granular dystrophy
  • Lisch corneal dystrophy
  • Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy
  • Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy
  • Macular corneal dystrophy
  • Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy
  • Congenital hereditary corneal dystrophy
  • Posterior polymorphous dystrophy
• Corneal scarring. Corneal scarring creates opaque vision. Keratectomy treats either opacity or irregularity on the surface of your cornea, especially if it affects the cornea’s ability to focus light.
• Recurrent epithelial erosion syndrome. This is a corneal condition in which the epithelium abnormally adheres to the underlying basal lamina, causing photophobia, blurred vision, ocular pain and corneal tearing.
• Refractive eye disorders. Keratectomy surgery also corrects refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
• Salzmann’s nodular degeneration. A disorder of the cornea, this condition causes callus-like scar tissue to develop under the epithelium. It’s often associated with corneal inflammation or a prior infection.
• Infectious material. Your eye doctor uses keratectomy to selectively remove infectious material from your eye.

The best photorefractive keratectomy doctors carry out careful diagnostic tests to determine if keratectomy can treat your eye’s cornea problem. The eye specialists at VRMNY have done years of research on eye treatments; they’re leaders in the development of treatment procedures. They have the expertise required to handle the complex surgery to treat corneal disease.

How’s Keratectomy Eye Surgery Performed?

When your ophthalmologist performs a keratectomy procedure, the goal is to improve the function of your cornea. While the steps in each of the different procedures can differ, you can expect certain steps during this outpatient procedure to include:

• Doctor’s consultation. Your doctor examines your eye, reviews your medical history and perhaps takes some diagnostic imaging tests. Once you have a diagnosis and a treatment plan that involves keratectomy, your doctor explains the procedure and you can ask any questions.
• Preparation. Before the eye surgery, your doctor advises you to stop some medication, avoid smoking to promote healing or give other preparation instructions.
• Keratectomy surgery. The first step is to provide an anesthetic to prevent pain or discomfort. The doctor then follows the steps for the specific keratectomy surgical procedure. For a phototherapeutic keratectomy, for instance, your eye doctor removes the diseased epithelium using an alcohol solution and then uses an excimer laser to treat your corneal injury or corneal disease.
• Your doctor prescribes antibiotic eye drops and painkillers to ease any discomfort or pain. Wearing an eye patch also helps protect the eye. Any discomfort you feel reduces with time as the healing continues.

A corneal problem is usually discovered during a routine eye exam. If you’re suffering from blurred vision, contact an eye specialist at VRMNY to get an accurate diagnosis. If keratectomy is the proper treatment, you can also have it done there.