Cornea Specialist - Denver, Colorado
Corneal Transplantation
Corneal transplantation is an option for people who have scarred corneas due to infection or injury, corneal clouding (Fuch's dystrophy) with visual loss, or corneal thinning caused by keratoconus.
People who would have been permanently blinded in the past by inherited cornea disease or degeneration, corneal injury, or infection may now have their vision restore with corneal transplants. With about 40,000 performed each year, corneal transplants have become quite common in the United States. With the help of technological advances the chances of success have increased dramatically.
Most important for your success after a corneal transplant is the skill, technique and training of your cornea surgeon. As one of only a handful of surgeons who have completed both a full one-year training fellowship in refractive surgery and a fellowship in corneal surgery, Paul Cutarelli, MD is your best choice for a highly qualified cornea specialist to perform your corneal transplant.DSEK - Partial-thickness Corneal Transplant
Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) is one of the newest techniques in corneal transplantation. A DSEK procedure is a partial-thickness corneal transplant that replaces only the endothelial layer. A thin piece of donor tissue containing only the endothelial cell layer is inserted onto the back surface of the patient's cornea. This new technique, where appropriate, is a significant improvement over the standard corneal transplantation operation. The surgery itself takes less time with an experienced eye surgeon, involves a smaller surgical incision, requires far fewer stitches, heals faster and more reliably, and the vision returns faster.
After DSEKPterygium
A pterygium is a raised, wedge shaped tissue growth on the cornea. Pterygium can can cause redness, inflammation, dry and itchy eyes, and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. In advanced cases, pterygium may grow over part of the central cornea, and can affect vision. Pterygium can cause astigmatism and corneal scarring.
Mild symptoms of irritation and inflammation can be treated with eye drops. If, however, symptoms are severe or vision is being affected, the pterygium can be removed surgically.
Read more about Pterygium and Pterygium Removal Surgery
Keratoconus
Keratoconus, which means “cone-shaped cornea” is a condition in which the cornea thins and develops a cone shaped bulge. When the shape of the cornea is distorted it can impair visual acuity. In the early stages, a patient's symptoms may be no different from those of other refractive defects, but as the disease progresses vision deteriorates. Some patients develop sensitivity to light (photophobia), eyestrain, and itching in the eye. Another symptom of keratoconus is the perception of multiple “ghost images.” The cause of keratoconus is unknown, but some researchers believe that genetics play a role.
During the early stages of keratoconus, vision can be corrected with the use of glasses. Later, rigid contacts may be required. These contacts will evenly refract the light entering the eye so vision is not distorted. When the diseased has progressed far enough that contacts are no longer effective, a corneal transplant is recommended. A corneal transplant involves removing the diseased cornea and replacing it with a healthy donor cornea.
Intacs inserts for Keratoconus
For patients who suffer from Keratoconus and cannot wear glasses or contacts, Intacs can provide clear maintenance-free vision. Intacs prescription inserts are clear, thin prescription inserts that allow light rays to focus properly on the retina by gently reshaping the curvature of the cornea. There is no cutting or permanent removal of tissue involved, and Intacs can be removed and replaced if your vision changes. Even patients with severe keratoconus who have lost their ability to wear contact lens (Contact Lens Intolerant) may achieve excellent vision and comfort with contact lenses after receiving Intacs surgery.