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In partial corneal transplants (descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, or DSEK), Dr. Younger removes the diseased back surface of the cornea through a small incision. The donor cornea is prepared by a specialized eye bank to in order to separate the healthy back layer, which is inserted into the front part of the eye. An air bubble is then placed and pushes the donor tissue up against the back surface of the patient's cornea. The eye's natural pumping mechanism will attach the donor cornea as the air absorbs. DSEK is an advance in corneal transplantation that provides a better surgical option with less healing time, less astigmatism and less risk of rejection. Corneal transplant procedures may restore vision to otherwise blind eyes in some cases, and, of all tissue transplants, the most successful is a corneal transplant. The entire cornea is replaced in conditions such as scarring and keratoconus. In full corneal transplants (penetrating keratoplasty, or PKP), the diseased, or scarred, cornea is removed using a corneal trephine, creating a “bed†for the donor cornea, which is gently attached into place with ultra-fine sutures.
