MARTIN DE LA PRESA, M.D.
Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgery
CORNEA TRANSPLANT SURGERY
Being able to transform someone’s life with the gift of improved sight is one of the greatest pleasures Martin de la Presa, M.D. receives at his ophthalmology practice. Through the latest technology and the most advanced methods Dr. de la Presa performs all corneal surgeries including Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Penetrating Keratoplasty corneal transplant surgeries. If you are experiencing vision loss as a result of corneal problems, Dr. de la Presa may be able to help restore your vision with cornea transplant surgery. Call to schedule a consultation to learn about these life-changing procedures.
CORNEA SURGERY Q & A
What are the conditions that require a cornea transplant?
If you have severe damage to your cornea (the clear front layer of your eye), doctors can replace the damaged part with healthy corneal tissue from a donor. If you have scarring or other damage that affects the whole cornea, Martin de la Presa, M.D. can do a full thickness corneal transplant (called a penetrating keratoplasty). If only part of your cornea is damaged, Dr. de la Presa can do a partial thickness transplant (called a lamellar keratoplasty). Learn more about corneal disease
What happens during a corneal transplant?
You may get general anesthesia to put you to sleep during the transplant surgery, or you may be awake. If you’re awake, Dr. de la Presa will put medicine in your eye to make it numb and give you another medicine to help you relax. He will use a special tool to keep your eye open during surgery. Dr. de la Presa remove the damaged part of your cornea and replace it with healthy donor tissue.
How long does it take to recover?
Corneal transplant is an outpatient surgery, so you can go home the same day. You won’t be able to drive, so you’ll need someone to give you a ride home after surgery. You’ll need a follow-up appointment the day after surgery to check how your eye is healing. After surgery, you’ll need to take steps to help your eye recover:
Use special eye drops prescribed by your doctor
Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye
Wear eyeglasses or a special shield to protect your eye
Depending on the type of transplant, it can take either three months or up to a year to fully recover. Talk with your doctor about when you can get back to your normal activities.
Are there any side effects?
Like any surgery, corneal transplant surgery has risks. One major risk is tissue rejection, when your body sees the new cornea as a foreign object and tries to get rid of it. Your doctor can give you medicine to help stop the rejection and save your cornea. The following could be signs of a cornea rejection:
Eye pain
Sensitivity to light
Red eyes
Cloudy or hazy vision
If you have these symptoms after a corneal transplant, tell your eye doctor right away. Corneal transplant can also cause other eye problems, including:
Infection
Bleeding from the eye
If you have tissue rejection or other severe problems with your new cornea, you may need another transplant. Schedule an appointment to talk about the risks of corneal transplant and whether this treatment is right for you.
Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH).
