The Importance of a Long and Lasting Effect of Corneal Transplant
Your sense of sight is a very important factor in your body. It is the window to your soul that is why you must take good care of it. You cannot afford to be brought in the operating room for a corneal transplant being undertaken by people in a laboratory coat. But to those who need such transplant, here is what you are going to do... Relax...
One part of the eye which is of great importance is the cornea. It is the surface in front of the eye... A clear surface which when damaged, its tissues will be replaced in an instant before the entire cornea may be totally injured. Then, that's it! The transplant is already done by a medical professional in a laboratory coat.
There are those who find themselves in need of a corneal transplant. Many go through the conventional Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) procedure. The surgeon removes part of the patient's unhealthy, clouded cornea (what should be the clear film that lies over the iris) and replaces it with a cadaver's donated tissue. This is basically done by cutting out a "window" and sewing in the new piece. Those stitches are not removed for at least six months. Even then they may only be taken out over the course of several visits.
"PKP, or total corneal transplant, is considered to be the gold standard for those who have corneas which are scarred or damaged," said Dr. M. Bowes Hamill, an ophthalmologist/corneal specialist who is on the staff of the Baylor College of Medicine's Cullen Eye Institute.
But Hamill says there are some issues to consider, as with all major surgeries, especially those which use donor tissue/organs. In the case of PKP, more often than not the surgery leaves the patient with a serious stigmatism that must be corrected with hard contact lenses. But they can and will see 20/20 with this addition.
The other major drawback, according to Hamill, is that because the tissue never really regains its strength, there is always the chance of a rupture. If the patient is older, has arthritis or other dexterity problems, putting in the contact lenses might prove to be a big problem.
However, there is now a procedure that works better and has less down time: Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty, or DSE.
Hamill feels that this new method should be considered if the patient fits the criteria (transplant is needed due to disease and not injury) and the patient doesn't mind giving up 20/20 vision for about 20/30 to 20/40. The patient will not need to wear contact lenses and the risk of a rupture is no longer a consideration. Please visit Healthcare Tiger for more information.