Corneal Transplant Surgery (DSEK)
Corneal transplants are performed on patients who have poor vision due to a cloudy or scarred cornea from either trauma, surgery, prior infection or certain types of hereditary eye diseases such as keratoconus. At Peninsula Laser Eye Medical Group, we're pleased to provide Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty for cornea transplantation in addition to conventional full-thickness corneal transplants.
Referred to as DSEK (Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty), this procedure involves replacing just the damaged inner cell layer of the damaged cornea, rather than replacing the whole thickness of the cornea. In this technique, a thin piece of donor corneal tissue is inserted through a small incision. The results are a smoother corneal surface with increased speed of healing, as compared to a traditional full-thickness corneal transplant.
Dr. Volpicelli was one of the first corneal transplant surgeons in the Bay Area to be specially trained in the innovative DSEK technique. And, he offers this revolutionary procedure to patients throughout Northern California and the Bay Area.
More About DSEK
Historically, full-thickness corneal transplant surgery has not changed significantly in the last 30 years. A conventional corneal transplant requires long periods of convalescence, sometimes upwards of 12 months for patients to enjoy good-stable vision. The traditional corneal transplant procedure requires multiple sutures and a lengthy post-operative recovery period until one reaches their final refraction and "best-spectacle-corrected vision". Now, with the advent of DSEK, we are able to make a small 1/4 inch incision in the eye and insert a partial thickness corneal transplant which requires only a single suture and several weeks for good recovery of vision.
Benefits of DSEK
- Stronger corneal integrity with less sutures
- Faster recovery and rehabilitation
- Reduced chance of corneal graft rejection
- Much improved vision: several weeks rather than several months
DSEK is specifically suited for patients who have posterior corneal diseases with endothelial dysfunction. Patients with corneal conditions such as Fuch's dystrophy, bullous keratopathy or failed prior corneal transplants are surgical candidates who may benefit from the DSEK technique.
If you think you may benefit from this procedure or know someone who may need a corneal transplant, please schedule a consultation today by calling 650-961-2585 or schedule online now.
