The cornea is the transparent front layer of the eye that allows light to enter and focuses vision. When the cornea is damaged or diseased, it can lose its transparency, leading to blurred or distorted vision. In such cases, keratoplasty, also known as corneal transplantation, can be a solution to restore vision.
Types of Keratoplasty:
There are two main types of keratoplasty:
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Penetrating Keratoplasty or DALK: In this procedure, the entire cornea of the patient is replaced with a donor cornea. This is performed when the disease affects all layers of the cornea. Penetrating keratoplasty is an effective procedure that can restore vision in patients with severely damaged corneas.
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DALK or Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty: In this type of surgery, only the anterior part of the cornea is replaced, preserving the innermost layer (endothelium). This can be done when the disease affects only the superficial layers of the cornea, such as in keratoconus, corneal scars, or herpes virus infections. DALK is a less invasive procedure than penetrating keratoplasty and has a lower risk of corneal rejection.
What Are the Results of Keratoplasty?
Most patients undergoing keratoplasty experience a significant improvement in their vision. Complete recovery may take several months, but most patients begin to notice an improvement in their vision in the weeks following surgery.
What Are the Risks of Keratoplasty?
As with any surgery, keratoplasty carries some risks, such as:
- Infection: The risk of infection is low, but it can be serious.
- Rejection: The patient’s body may reject the donor cornea, which may require additional surgery.
- Glaucoma: Eye pressure may increase after surgery, which may require treatment.
- Cataracts: The surgery may increase the risk of developing cataracts in the future.
