Any condition which affect the layers of the cornea may need replacement of selected layers or full thickness of the cornea. These corneal transplants can either be DSAEK, DMEK, DALK or PK.
This procedure is performed to replace the inside layers of the cornea for conditions such as Fuch's endothelial dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy or corneal decompensation. The inside layers of the donor tissue is precisely removed with a lathe in the eye bank prior to transplantation.
This procedure is performed to replace the inside layer (Descemet's Layer) of the cornea for conditions such as Fuch's endothelial dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy or corneal decompensation. The Descemet's layer is manually pealed of the donor tissue by the surgeon prior to transplantation.
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) is performed for conditions affecting the front layers of cornea such as keratoconus, other corneal ectasias, corneal scars and corneal dystrophies, Front layers of the cornea from the patient's eye is replaced by the same layers from the donor eyes.
Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is performed to replace the full thickness of central cornea with a donor cornea. This is performed for conditions affecting the entire thickness of the cornea such as full thickness corneal scars.