Corneal Transplant
A corneal transplant involves replacing a diseased or scarred cornea with a new one. It's sometimes an option for those with:
- corneal thinning (Keratoconus)
- a cornea that's scarred due to infection or injury
- corneal clouding (Fuch's dystrophy) with visual loss
Corneal transplants are very common in the United States; about 40,000 are performed each year. The chances of success have risen dramatically because of technological advances such as less irritating sutures, which are often finer than a human hair; and the surgical microscope. Corneal transplantation has restored sight to many who a generation ago would have been blinded permanently by corneal injury, infection, or inherited corneal disease or degeneration.
Colorado corneal specialist Paul Cutarelli, M.D. is one of only a handful of surgeons to have completed a full one-year training fellowship in refractive surgery, as well as a fellowship in corneal surgery.
During your corneal transplant procedure
Your eyes will be numbed with an injection. A device will be placed around your eye to keep you from blinking.A trephine, an instrument like a cookie cutter, will be used to remove the cloudy cornea. Dr. Cutarelli will then place the new cornea in the opening and sew it with a very fine thread. The thread stays in for months or even years until the eye heals properly (removing the thread is quite simple and can easily be done in an ophthalmologist's office).
After your corneal transplant procedure
Dr. Cutarelli may ask you to limit some activities for several weeks following your surgery. You will probably need to use eye drops to help promote healing for several months. Full visual recovery may take up to a year, but most patients who have had a corneal transplant will have good vision for years.Risks and possible complications
As with any surgery, corneal transplant surgery poses risks, such as rejection of the new cornea. Warning signs for rejection are decreased vision, increased redness of the eye, increased pain, and increased sensitivity to light. If any of these last for more than six hours, you should immediately call your ophthalmologist. Rejection can be successfully treated if medication is administered at the first sign of symptoms.Denver LASIK Surgeon Paul E. Cutarelli, M.D. has improved the vision of more than 50,000 patients in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas.
Call 303-2020 PLUS to schedule an appointment at our Denver or Colorado Springs office.| Procedures |
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