September 30, 2014
The eyes are an essential part of the body. Vision is as important as having limbs to use each day, which is why it is always vital to get an eye condition treated before our eyes reach the stage of blindness. The thinning of the cornea is a condition that can lead to vision problems. In this case, a cornea transplant may be needed.
Types of Cornea Transplant
A cornea transplant comes in different types, depending on the layers of the cornea being treated.
Penetrating or full-thickness transplant. This method of cornea transplant involves the transplanting of all five layers of the cornea from a willing donor.
Lamellar transplant. This type of cornea transplant only involves some of the corneal layers. It may include the deepest layer known as the endothelium or those closer to the surface or the anterior lamellar method of cornea transplant.
What Happens During a Cornea Transplant
On the day of your treatment, you may be put under local anesthesia to numb your eye and prevent it from moving. Although sedated, you will most likely be awake throughout the surgery. However, there are cases where general anesthesia is also used.
Using a special cutting instrument known as a trephine, a round section of the affected cornea is removed from the front of the eye. A similar-sized section will also be removed from the donor’s eye. Your surgeon will then replace your old cornea with your donor’s cornea by sewing it in place with microscopic stitches.
Cornea Transplant in Arizona
Have your eyes treated and enjoy the perks of having good vision. Call us at 602-258-4321 to schedule a consultation with one of our eye experts here at Cornea & Cataract Consultants of Arizona. We look forward to hearing from you!
Image courtesy of m_bartosch at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
