Keratoplasty

Keratoplasty (corneal transplantation) is a surgical operation when a section of patient’s cornea is replaced with donor transplant. Transplantation allows to improve visual acuity significantly in cases of diseases that affect cornea, and to recover if there are damages from ocular traumas

Indications for keratoplasty:

• keratoconus,
• dystrophies, degenerations,
• corneal hems,
• avescular leucoma
• severe keratitis
• inborn anomalies
• bullous keratopathy etc

Penetrating keratoplasty is an operation when all layers of damaged tissue are replaced if pathologic changes take place in all corneal layers. This kind of operation has many risks of intra- and post-operative complications in comparison with modern layer-by-layer methods.

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is performed In case of keratoconus of 3 stage and not very deep corneal opacities. Operation when patient is transplanted only donor stroma and other healthy layers are kept (Descemet’s membrane, endothelium).

In case of corneal endothelial layer dysfunction and endothelial-epithelial dystrophy development (after previous operations, Fuchs dystrophy), the posterior layered keratoplasty is performed. This operation allows you to transplant only damaged deep layers of the cornea, and keep the main thickness of its own tissue. Layered techniques are more complexed and time consuming, but at the same time they provide patient with a better prognosis for a better outcome.

Best results can be achieved when both keratoplasties penetrating and anterior deep lamellar are performed with femto laser assistance, which provides ideal cut precision and compatibility of the shape in donor transplant and recipient’s bed, leading to a significant increase in the visual functions of patients.