As the term suggests, a corneal transplant is a type of eye surgery that an ophthalmologist can perform to correct clouding of the cornea. The cornea, which is a dome-shaped structure, plays a crucial role in allowing the eye to focus. An ophthalmologist may recommend a corneal transplant in Hoffman Estates for patients with corneal scarring, corneal ulcers, keratoconus, and Fuchs’ dystrophy.
Placing corneal implants may involve performing a full-thickness or partial-thickness transplant. Eye doctors generally prefer to perform partial-thickness transplants whenever possible to facilitate a faster recovery. Descemet’s Stripping with Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) is one of the newest techniques. It involves replacing only the layer of the cornea that has sustained damage. The eye doctor will gently remove the diseased cell layer of the cornea. Then, he or she prepares the donor cornea and inserts it through a tiny incision in the white area of the eye. The donor tissue quickly adheres to the recipient tissue with the help of a natural suction mechanism.
