Cornea
Cornea
Pterygium surgery
A pterygium can be removed surgically if it causes discomfort or distorts vision (by inducing astigmatism). The procedure is done under local anesthesia and involves peeling the growth off the cornea and trimming it from the conjunctiva, the white of the eye. If this is all that is done, the pterygium has a high likelihood of growing back, and the recurrence can often be more aggressive than the original pterygium. Our surgeons use state-of-the-art techniques, including the use of conjunctival grafts, amniotic membranes, and anti-scarring medications, to prevent recurrences. We also make use of innovative tissue sealants to prevent suture related discomfort and scarring.
PK/DALK
A corneal transplant may be recommended when certain infections, injuries, or diseases leave scars or distort the shape of the cornea so much that good vision is not possible with glasses or contact lenses. During a corneal transplant, a round, central portion of the cornea is removed with special microsurgical instruments and replaced with a healthy donor cornea. The donor cornea is provided the eye bank, which harvests the tissue from a healthy human donor and screens the tissue to ensure that it is free of disease and of high quality to be used for transplantation. The donor cornea is carefully sutured into place with the help of an operating microscope using many tiny stitches that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
The surgery takes about an hour and is performed on an outpatient basis. The eye is numbed with local anesthesia and patients do not feel any discomfort during the surgery. A patch is placed over the eye after surgery, and patients can go home the very same day.
DSEK (Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty) is a revolutionary new procedure that has been replacing full-thickness corneal transplants as the procedure of choice for Fuchs dystrophy and other conditions resulting in corneal swelling. In DSEK, only the inner part of the cornea consisting of the diseased endothelial cells is removed and replaced. This is done through a small incision no bigger than the size of the incision used in cataract surgery. Compared with a full thickness transplant, DSEK allows for a significantly faster recovery, eliminating swelling and restoring vision in a matter of weeks. Dr. Kubal at the Santa Monica Eye Medical Group is a fellowship-trained cornea surgeon specializing in DSEK surgery. For more information, contact our office.
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Intacs are semicircular plastic ring segments that can be surgically placed in the cornea to flatten and reshape the cornea. Although they were initially developed for the treatment of low levels of nearsightedness, they are particularly useful for patients with keratoconus. Prior to the development of Intacs, patients with keratoconus who could no longer be corrected with contact lenses or who were intolerant of contact lenses required a corneal transplant for best vision. If you wish to discuss your treatment options, contact us to schedule an appointment.