When the cornea becomes cloudy or damaged due to injury or disease, and when conventional methods of treatment do not work, a corneal transplant becomes necessary to restore vision. There are different types of corneal transplants available and based on the condition being treated, Dr. Montenegro will select the best transplant for you. Corneal transplants are possible due to donations by recently deceased people. Without the donation, eyesight, could not be restored.
Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP): Penetrating keratoplasty is a full-thickness cornea transplant. During the procedure, a small button approximately 8 mm in diameter is removed from the diseased cornea and a button of donor tissue is sutured in place. The sutures may be removed months after the procedure. This procedure has a long healing period and the best visual acuity is achieved several months after the procedure. The sutures can also cause a large amount of astigmatism (irregular vision) that can be corrected with contacts and/or glasses. There is also the possibility that the sutures will break as a result of injury to the eye, therefore contact sports must be avoided at all times.
Ultra-Thin DSAEK: This procedure is performed mainly on a cornea where the innermost layer (endothelium) is not functioning. Until the procedure was perfected, PKP was the only choice for the transplants. This procedure involves removing only the diseased layer of the cornea, leaving the rest intact, and replacing it with ultra-thin donor tissue. The healing time is greatly reduced to months. Dr. Montenegro is South Florida’s highest-volume DSAEK surgeon offering his patients the skills and experience to perform these delicate procedures.
See Dr. Montenegro’s Webinar: DSAEK Surgery in the Glaucoma Patient. Viewer discretion is advised as some of the content may be uncomfortable for viewers.
DSAEK surgery in the glaucoma patient | Eversight webinar recap