Keratoplasty

Keratoplasty Procedure in Alwarpet, Chennai

Keratoplasty, also called a cornea transplant, is needed when the cornea of the human eye gets damaged. Through a damaged cornea, the light rays pass but get distorted, thus leading to poor vision. If your cornea is damaged and you are having any vision problem, visit an ophthalmology doctor near you and check if you can get a keratoplasty done.  

What is keratoplasty?

Keratoplasty is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged cornea with a healthy one from a donor. Keratoplasty or cornea transplant helps bring back normal vision of a person and also lessen the pain. Additionally, it will also help in improving the appearance of the affected cornea that was scarred before the transplant.  

To know more, visit an ophthalmology hospital near you.
 
During the procedure, either only a part of the cornea or the entire cornea can be replaced depending on the severity of the condition. The surgeon decides whether only a part has to be replaced or the entire cornea has to be replaced.  
 
Your doctor will brief you about the approach that he/she will take to treat your damaged cornea.  
 
The procedure is performed under sedatives that will relax patients and a local anesthetic that will anesthetize the eye. This procedure is performed on one eye at a time. The duration of the surgery depends on the condition and severity of a problem.  

Why is keratoplasty done?

Keratoplasty corrects several eye problems. It is needed by people whose eyes cannot perceive light due to damaged cornea leading to distorted vision.  
 
Keratoplasty corrects eye problems like: 

• Scarring of the cornea due to injury or corneal infections
• Sores of ulcers at the cornea  
• Inherited eye problems like Fuchs dystrophy 
• Bulging of the cornea (keratoconus) 
• Earlier failed keratoplasty 

When do you need to see a doctor?

Consult your doctor if you have any difficulty with your vision. Your cornea may have been damaged due to an injury to your eye. If you experience symptoms like distorted vision, eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, consult your doctor and get yourself treated.

Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Alwarpet, Chennai.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

What are the different types of keratoplasty?

 There are four types of keratoplasty 

1. Full-thickness Keratoplasty - In this case, the entire thickness of the affected cornea is removed and replaced with a donor cornea. 
2. Endothelial transplant - In this procedure, the diseased corneal tissue is removed from the back of the corneal layer that includes the endothelial layer of the cornea. 
3. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty - Used in patients with conditions like keratoconus or stromal scar of the cornea. The normal endothelial is preserved and replaces the front layer of the corneal tissue.   
4. Keratoprosthesis - It is a specialized corneal transplant surgery that involves two parts: donor corneal tissue and a rigid central optic part made of plastic. It is a hybrid implant.  

What are the benefits of keratoplasty?

The benefits of keratoplasty are many. A few of them are listed below:  

• Rapid improvement and rehabilitation of visualization 
• Restores vision 
• Helps in improving corneal health as well as ocular health 
• Helps in eliminating pain and redness of the eye that resulted from corneal injury 

What are the risks?

The risks associated with keratoplasty are similar to those with any other surgical procedure. The major risk is that a patient's immune system may reject the donor cornea. This rejection can be reversed though. Other risks include: 

• Infection of the cornea or in general of the eye 
• Post-surgical bleeding after hours of surgery 
• Detachment of the retina  
• Swelling of the cornea 
• Cataract 
• Glaucoma 

Conclusion

Keratoplasty helps in restoring vision through a cornea transplant. Your body may take weeks to adapt to the changes and improve fully.