cornea transplant

Why You Might Need a Cornea Transplant

/in /by

cornea transplantOver 12.7 million people across the world suffer from cornea disease, including blindness. As one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness, it can create significant problems for individuals when it comes to work, school, or even life. Dealing with a disease of the cornea can be devastating, so it is important to seek treatment immediately. Depending on your specific circumstances, a cornea transplant may be the best option.

Reasons Why You May Need a Cornea Transplant

A cornea transplant is a surgery that involves using a specialized surgical tool to cut through the diseased cornea to remove the tissue. The new cornea is then sized and sewn into place. There are several reasons why you may need a cornea transplant.

You Have Inflammation or an Infection in Their Eye

If you experience an infection in the eye, it can lead to scarring of the cornea. The scarring can impact your vision, which can lead to needing surgery in order to correct the issue. In some cases, individuals develop eye infections due to having a weakened immune system, contact lens use, or from rubbing their eyes.

You Have Fuch’s Dystrophy

If you have Fuch’s Dystrophy, you may need a cornea transplant at some point in your life. This disease causes the endothelial layer to die, which results in inflammation of the cornea. This can lead to cloudy and blurred vision, as well as pain. A cornea transplant can help to correct the problems that sufferers experience and restore their vision.

You Have a Thin Cornea

A thin cornea can be caused by some chronic medical conditions. When the cornea is too thin, it can cause light to appear out of focus. This can result in blurry vision and can make it difficult for individuals to text, read, or even drive.

See if a Cornea Transplant Is Right for You

If you are experiencing vision problems and believe you may benefit from a cornea transplant, contact Maehara Eye Surgery & Laser today. You can schedule an appointment by calling the Honolulu, HI, office at 808-955-3937 or by filling out the online form to get started.

Corneal Transplant Honolulu, HI

Have a Scratched Cornea? What To Do

/0 Comments/in , /by

Yes, you may know how to scratch a few records for a large crowd (or at least you did in the 80’s) but do you know what to do if you have a scratched cornea? A scratched cornea can happen to anyone at almost anytime. Even though your eyelashes are designed to help protect your cornea from such disasters, accidents happen. If you are experiencing tenderness, redness, excessive tearing, and the sensation like something is stuck in your eye, then you may have a scratched cornea. But how can you treat it?

Flush It

First things first, you want to flush your eye out.  If there’s something still in your eye that you get it out before it causes more damage. To flush your eye out either grab an eye cup or a clean drinking cup. Then, fill it up to the top with either a saline solution or water. Gently lean over the cup and place your eye into the solution and blink; this will allow the water to enter your eye and get anything out of it. Repeat as necessary until you find some relief.

Don’t Put Anything In It

You may be tempted to rub your eye with your finger or put your contact lenses back in but make sure that you don’t touch your eyes or put anything in them until your eye has healed; this will just make the situation worse.

Schedule an Eye Appointment

If you think that you’ve scratched your cornea, then come into our office to see Dr. Jeffrey Maehara. During your eye exam, he will be able to determine if your cornea is scratched and if it is, just how to treat it. Depending on how severe the scratch is, Dr. Maehara may recommend something as small as letting it heal on its own to something as serious as steroid injections.

If you think you have a scratched cornea, make sure that you follow these tips in this article. To learn more about your vision health and how to take better care of your eyes, schedule a consultation at our Honolulu or Waipahu office today at 808.955.3937.