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Resolve Cornea Issues Without a Complete Replacement

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The clear outer layer of your eyes, called the cornea, is responsible for focusing light and images for the retina and optical nerve to give your sense of vision. This thin layer on the front of the eye is susceptible to damage, injury, or other condition which can make your vision cloudy or foggy.

In many cases, these conditions will subside on their own or with conservative treatments such as eye drops or other treatment methods. In more severe cases, the damaged part of the cornea must be replaced to regain clear vision.

Previously, the best option for resolving corneal issues was a complete corneal transplant using donor tissue. This was a relatively successful procedure. However, it also came with a rather extensive recovery period and was not without risks of tissue rejection or procedure failure.

Now, instead of replacing the entire cornea, ophthalmologists like Dr. Jeffrey Maehara are able to perform Descement-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK). This new procedure delicately and precisely removes only the damaged layers of the cornea, leaving the healthy tissue intact.

Patients who undergo DSAEK are able to return home the same day of the treatment and, with the anesthetics used, feel only minor pressure during the procedure. Although patients must refrain from bending below the waist or doing any strenuous activity or exercise for the first three weeks following the procedure, recovery is relatively easy with a great success rate.

The DSAEK procedure allows Dr. Maehara to help patients regain their vision with a higher success rate and a much shorter recovery than a complete replacement of the cornea. There may be some changes in your vision, including periodic blurriness, for a few months after the procedure. Still, these are temporary, and most patients are able to see better after 3 months.

Since many of the tissues that make up the cornea do not grow back if damaged or injured, the partial replacement offered by DSAEK is a safe and effective way to regain your clear vision. If you have chronic blurriness or fogginess in your vision, call Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser in Honolulu, HI, at 808-955-3937 or visit www.maeharaeyes.com to schedule an exam today.

The latest technique in corneal transplantation

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The cornea is known as the “window of the eye,” protecting the eye from infection and foreign material and focusing or refracting light. The cornea needs to be clear and the correct shape for you to see accurately. When it becomes cloudy or misshapen, a cornea transplant may be necessary. Read on to learn about the latest technique in corneal transplantation called the DSAEK procedure.

What is DSAEK?

DSAEK is short for Descemet-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty. It is a less-invasive procedure that gives the patient clear vision and a shorter recovery time than with traditional corneal transplantation methods. Conventional surgery requires 16 surgeries and a prolonged recovery time, plus many patients experience astigmatism after surgery, with full recovery taking up to two years.

What happens during the DSAEK Procedure?

During this outpatient procedure, the patient is given topical anesthesia so they don’t feel anything. The damaged endothelial layer is replaced, while the remainder of the cornea is left undisturbed. The new cornea is inserted through a tiny incision that needs one suture for closure. The surgeon then injects an air bubble underneath the cornea to make sure it is centered on the eye.

What is recovery like?

The DSAEK Procedure offers a shorter post-op recovery, fast visual recovery and less chance of rejection than conventional surgery. Patients will take antibiotics and steroid eye drops and return the next day for post-surgical follow-up. Some patients may need a second air bubble injection to re-center the cornea. Patients will need to use eye drops for several years to help with anti-rejection.

What will my vision be like after surgery?

You can expect blurry vision immediately after surgery due to swelling and the air bubble used to center the cornea. When the bubble dissolves and swelling dissipates, your vision will improve. Some patients will need to wear new glasses during healing.

When can I expect full results?

It may take up to three months for your best vision to reveal itself.

If you are interested in learning more about corneal transplants and the DSAEK Procedure, set up a consultation by calling Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser at 808.955.3937.

DSAEK Transplant Honolulu, HI

The Basics of DSAEK

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In this day and age, it can seem like everything that we say can be said in an acronym. Although you may “LOL” your way through life and think, “OMG” what other acronyms do I need, Dr. Maehara has one that may actually help improve your vision: DSAEK.

What’s DSAEK?

It used to be that the only way for someone to replace their cornea was with healthy donor tissue which was a long drawn out process. Luckily, times have changed and there’s a new kid in town: DSAEK.

DSAEK or descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty is the latest corneal transplantation technique that Dr. Meahara offers. The great thing about DSAEK is that it gives patients clear postoperative vision and a shorter recovery time than other corneal transplant options in the past.

Why a Corneal Transplant?

You don’t want to get a corneal transplant unless you need done, right? For you to see properly, your cornea needs to be clean and it also needs to be the right shape. Sometimes, when your cornea becomes cloudy or misshapen, it can make it a lot more difficult for you to see properly. When this happens, we may recommend a cornea transplant to help restore your vision or repair the overall integrity of the eye.

Why DSAEK?

Dr. Maehara recommends using he DSAEK rather than getting a full cornea replacement because of the following:

  • The eye surface is kept intact which keeps the cornea stronger and more resistant to injury or infection.
  • There is minimal change in refraction and visual acuity because only the endothelial layer is replaced, rather than the entire cornea.
  • Problems with sutures are significantly reduced or eliminated.
  • Recovery is significantly faster Fewer risk factors are involved.

If you want to learn more about this or if you think you need a corneal transplant, contact our Honolulu office and call us at 808.955.3937.

DSAEK Honolulu, HI

Understanding DSAEK Corneal Transplant Surgery

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DSAEK Honolulu, HIIn a world of LOL’s and OMG’s, it can be hard to identify every acronym you come into contact with. If, however, you are going to know one acronym in the eye industry, consider DSAEK. DSAEK corneal transplant surgery stands for Descemet-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty. So, what is this unique form of surgery and why is it popular amongst our patients here at Dr. Jeffrey Maehara’s office? Read on to learn more.

First Things First

To fully understand a DSAEK corneal transplant, it’s important to know what a corneal transplant surgery is and why it is used. If you are a patient who has either advanced glaucoma or cataracts, then a corneal transplant surgery may be able to help save your vision. By getting rid of part of your cornea and implanting new corneal tissues from a donor, this type of surgery is a real vision saver.

What Is DSAEK Corneal Transplant Surgery?

The unique benefit of DSAEK corneal transplant surgery is that it gives patients almost immediately clearer postoperative vision with a lower recovery time; meaning that you can get back to living life and see things more clearly immediately afterward.

What Is Surgery Like?

During this surgery, Dr. Jeffrey Maehara will make a mark on the surface of your cornea with a small instrument called a trephine— the mark is there to help the surgeon measure the right size for the transplant and outline the part of the cornea that needs to be peeled back. Once this mark has been made, the damaged section of the cornea will be removed, and the donor cornea will be then placed into the eye. With just a single stitch, your cornea will be closed, and your surgery will be done.

What Is Recovery Like?

After waiting in our office for an hour or two to be monitored by our staff, you will be sent home to rest and recover. Recovery from this type of surgery just takes a few days, but you should be able to return to your normal activities in no longer than a couple of days.

DSAEK corneal transplant surgery is a unique surgery designed to help restore patients vision. If you would like to learn more about this and other types of surgical procedures that we offer at our office, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!