The cornea is an inclined transparent layer of the eye, located in front of the eye. It performs the task of focusing light and protecting the eye from external factors. It plays an important role in visual function and is the most important refractive lens of the eye.
Keratoplasty is the replacement of diseased tissue with healthy donor tissue for diseases that disrupt the shape or transparency of the cornea.
Cornea grafting is performed on any diseased layer in the corneal tissue. Methods differ depending on the state of the endothelial cell, which is located in the inner layer of the corneal tissue and keeps the cornea transparent.
In Dunyaguez, according to the patient’s corneal disease, advanced cornea graftings are usually performed, such as:
DALK is an anterior lamellar keratoplasty. The anterior part of the cornea is replaced with a thickness of 85-90%. In this type of transplantation, the chance of rejection of the donor tissue is much lower. It is used for keratoconus and corneal spots.
DSAEK, DMEK. This is a cornea grafting, in which endothelial replacement is made for eyes with corneal edema or endothelial deficiency where the previous cornea has not engrafted. With this type of cornea grafting, patients can return to their normal lives in a few weeks. Patients do not need to wait up to a year for wound healing and removal of sutures, as in classical transplantation. After cornea grafting, the diopters do not change and astigmatism does not occur.
Patients’ and donors’ corneas can be cut to desired shapes using a femtosecond laser instead of trephine blades. Cornea grafting, cut with a femtosecond laser, reduces astigmatism and improves vision in patients.