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.