Long Island LASIK Specialists
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Long Island Main Office:
Rockville Centre
Ryan Medical Arts Building
2000 North Village Avenue
Suite 402
Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY 11570
Tel: 516-766-2519
Long Island Corneal Specialists
Long Island corneal surgery patients are treated by one of the nation’s foremost corneal teams at OCLI. These corneal specialists are skilled in leading advances in corneal disease and disorder treatments and are considered to be Long Island IOL eye surgery and refractive surgery specialists.
The cornea is the eye's outermost layer; it is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. A healthy cornea controls light entry into the eye to allow for focusing on images. However, many people suffer from corneal disorders and conditions.
Keratoconus is a progressive corneal disease in which a normally round cornea begins to bulge into a cone shape. The cone shape deflects light when it enters the eye, causing distorted vision.
Keratoconus develops slowly and can be difficult to detect. In rare cases, keratoconus develops more rapidly, and nearsightedness and astigmatism may accompany the disease. Individuals with keratoconus may need to frequently change prescriptions and experience glare and light sensitivities.
Corneal surgeries can be used to correct many of these conditions. The specialty cornea team at OCLI is trained in a number of these procedures including corneal transplants and Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) or Sutureless Corneal Grafting.
Traditional Corneal Transplant Surgery
A corneal transplant, also referred to as a corneal graft or a penetrating keratoplasty, removes diseased or unhealthy cornea tissue and replaces it with donor tissue. Corneal transplants are performed on patients with scarred or damaged corneas that prevent clear vision.
A corneal transplant procedure is conducted on an outpatient basis under local or general anesthesia. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist measures the size of the eye for the transplant. The injured or diseased corneal is removed from the eye and any additional work, such as the removal of a cataract, is also completed. Finally, the healthy donor cornea is sutured in place.
Sutures are removed from three months to 6 months after the surgery. After 6 months or longer, patients may be fitted with glasses or contact lenses.
DSAEK Surgery
DSAEK is a corneal transplant surgery where the unhealthy portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with healthy donor tissue. Unlike traditional corneal transplant surgery, the DSAEK procedure uses a smaller surgical incision and is a sutureless procedure. This allows for more rapid recovery and visual rehabilitation for patients. It also reduces the risk of complications that may rob sight.
The DSAEK procedure is performed in 20 to 30 minutes and performed with a local anesthetic. The sensory nerves of the eye are also blocked so patients will not feel or see anything while undergoing the procedure.
The first step of the operation involves making tiny incisions in the cornea using a device called a keratome. Another instrument called an anterior chamber (AC) is used to infuse saline solution into the anterior chamber of the eye to maintain the eye’s shape.
The surgeon will then remove the unhealthy corneal tissue with a device called a Descement’s stripper, which resembles a small garden rake.
Healthy corneal donor tissue is then used to replace the unhealthy corneal tissue. The cells of the donor tissue are coated with a protective gel, folded into a taco-like shape, and inserted through the surgical incision site into the anterior eye chamber. Once inside the eye, the tissue is unfolded and positioned to cover the area where the unhealthy tissue was removed. The anterior eye chamber is then filled with air to hold the donor tissue in place.
The incision site is closed and the patient is transferred to a recovery room so the air in the anterior chamber can hold the transplant in place. After an hour, the patient returns to the surgery room so the air can be released.
To learn more about corneal transplant surgery and the new innovative technologies available contact OCLI to schedule an appointment with one of our renowned corneal specialists.
The Long Island corneal specialists of OCLI are renowned ophthalmologists, many of whom also treat Long Island LASIK and cataract patients. To learn more about LASIK or cataract surgery at OCLI, please visit our LASIK or cataract page.
