DSAEK Corneal Transplant Surgery on Long Island, NY
As a Licensed Tissue Transplantation Facility and one of the busiest corneal transplantation centers in the New York Metropolitan area, Island Eye Surgicenter boasts a superior reputation when it comes to surgical treatment of corneal diseases.
The cornea is the transparent tissue covering the front of the eye. Among its many important functions, the cornea is a powerful refracting surface, providing 65 percent of the eye’s focusing ability. However, because the cornea has more nerve endings than any other part of the body, it is extremely sensitive and prone to diseases and abnormalities. When such abnormalities lead to poor vision or loss of functional vision, corneal transplant surgery is often the best treatment option.
Approximately 40,000 corneal transplant procedures are performed each year in the United States, with a success rate of up to 95 percent in non-high risk cases.
The most common corneal diseases and irregularities that lead to corneal transplant surgery include:
- Keratoconus
- Edema following cataract surgery
- Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy
- Corneal scarring due to infection or injury
- Transplant rejection necessitating another transplantation
DSAEK Corneal Transplant Surgery at Island Eye Surgicenter
As recognized leaders in corneal transplant surgery, Island Eye attending eye surgeons perform the most sophisticated, leading-edge corneal transplant procedures, including DSAEK (Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty).
Unlike conventional corneal transplant surgery, which requires the removal and replacement of the entire central corneal tissue, also known as full-thickness corneal transplant, DSAEK involves the surgical replacement of the innermost layers of the cornea with healthy donor tissue. For that reason, DSAEK corneal transplant surgery is significantly less invasive than the traditional procedure.
In fact, compared to conventional corneal transplant surgery, the DSAEK procedure involves a shorter recovery, less postoperative astigmatism, reduced risk of donor tissue rejection, decreased risk of wound complications, stronger corneal integrity, smoother corneal surface and quicker restoration of vision. In 2009, the American Academy of Ophthalmology endorsed DSAEK as a superior treatment that delivers better visual outcomes and fewer complications.
The DSAEK Procedure and Recovery
During DSAEK corneal transplant surgery, the diseased, inner layer of the cornea is removed through a small incision on the surface of the eye and replaced with donor tissue. The graft is secured in place with an air bubble injected into the eye. The incision is generally closed with one small suture rather than the 12 or more that are used during conventional corneal transplant surgery. In some cases, the DSAEK procedure may not require any stitches.
Following DSAEK corneal transplant surgery, most patients recover within a few weeks, as opposed to months or even years after the conventional corneal transplant procedure. Full, corrected vision is generally achieved within 12 months, at which time patients may qualify to undergo laser eye surgery to correct astigmatism and/or nearsightedness, which are commonly induced by corneal transplantation techniques.
Please consult your eye surgeon about your corneal transplant surgery candidacy, recovery and risk factors. He or she can help you decide whether this procedure is right for you based on your unique situation.
If you do not have an eye care physician, please use our Physician Locator to get in touch with an Island Eye Surgicenter attending corneal transplant surgeon.
