How to Prepare for Cornea Transplantation?

The following steps are performed before keratoplasty.

Detailed Eye Examination: A detailed eye examination should be performed in terms of problems that may affect the surgery.

Eye Measurements: Donor cornea measurements will be evaluated.

Medications You Are Taking: You may need to stop some medications before cornea transplantation.

Solution of Other Eye Problems: Infection or other eye inflammation can reduce the success of a corneal transplant.

Finding a Donor Cornea The vast majority of donor corneas used in corneal transplantation are cadaveric corneas. Finding donor corneas is usually not as difficult as transplants involving the kidney and liver. This is due to the legal regulations regarding corneal transplantation and other organ donation of the cornea. more than forgiving. Some nervous system donors for keratoplasty must not have diseases and infections and must not have had eye surgery before. The corneas of people who have died for reasons not yet known are not suitable for corneal transplantation.

What is done during the operation? Keratoplasty is an operation that can be performed with or without the patient sleeping. The preference of the patient and the physician is important in this regard. The most common corneal transplantation is full-thickness corneal transplantation. Firstly, the patient’s cornea is made circular with an instrument called trephine. Then the donor cornea is cut to fit the gap formed in your cornea. Finally, the cut donor cornea is sutured to the gap in the patient’s cornea. In some cases, the patient is not suitable to receive a donor cornea. In these cases, artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis) can be used.

Half Fold Cornea Transplant In some corneal problems, full layer corneal transplantation is not the most appropriate treatment method. In these cases, certain layers of corneal transfer are performed. These methods are

Endothelial Keratoplasty: This procedure is used for problems in the back layers of the cornea. The endothelial layer is the only layer of cells located at the back of the cornea. The endothelial cell layer has a membrane called Descement’s membrane on it. Descement’s membrane transplantation is performed together with the endothelial cell layer. Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty: Unlike endothelial keratoplasty, this procedure is performed for problems in the anterior part of the cornea. The superficial parts of the cornea are combined with the superficial parts of the cornea taken from the donor cornea. is replaced. This method is SALK (Superficial Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty) and DALK (Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty). divided into two parts. Post Keratoplasty Period Eye drops and medicines: Eye drops and sometimes oral medications are used after corneal transplantation. These drugs accelerate healing and reduce risks. Eye Covering: It is an important point to use eye closure to protect the eye after transplantation. It is important in the early period. Frequent Checks: Frequent controls are usually required, especially in the first months after transplantation. Results After keratoplasty, some vision is restored, albeit partial. How the result will be, is often related to the problem that caused you to have a corneal transplant. Risks and complications may occur after corneal transplantation even years after the operation. For this reason, it is necessary to have regular check-ups every year. Corneal rejection reaction is usually controlled with medication. can be taken under control.

What is done during the operation? Keratoplasty is an operation that can be performed with or without the patient sleeping. The preference of the patient and the physician is important in this regard. The most common corneal transplantation is full-thickness corneal transplantation. Firstly, the patient’s cornea is made circular with an instrument called trephine. Then the donor cornea is cut to fit the gap formed in your cornea. Finally, the cut donor cornea is sutured to the gap in the patient’s cornea. In some cases, the patient is not suitable to receive a donor cornea. In these cases, artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis) can be used.

Vision Correction After Transplantation Visual acuity after keratoplasty may initially be worse than before surgery. You can find the bear by improving your vision. When the outer parts of the cornea heal after transplantation, some procedures are needed to improve vision. applications can be made.

Correction of Astigmatism Due to Corneal Irregularity: Roughness and dimpled areas on the corneal surface of the sutures placed to hold the cornea in place can cause astigmatism. In this case, appropriate sutures can reduce the amount of astigmatism. Elimination of Vision Problems: Postoperative problems such as myopia and hyperopia can be corrected with lenses and sometimes laser eye surgeries.