DMEK Transplant Procedure for Layton, UT

Are you suffering from cornea abnormalities? Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) can be a life-changing surgery for you if you are. If you’re in the Layton, UT, area, and would like to know more about DMEK transplants and procedures, then schedule an appointment with Mountain States Eye Center. We can help you see more clearly.

The cornea is a natural lens in your eye that contains several layers and controls and focuses the entry of light into your eye. A cornea in good condition will continuously remove and arrange protein fibers and fluids so that your vision is clear and crisp. If there is any damage to the cornea, this could lead to blurry and distorted vision, cause nearsightedness, double vision, astigmatism and sensitivity to light. Do you need a DMEK transplant? Here are some of the things that can lead to a cornea transplant surgery:

• Hereditary cornea failure, like from Fuch’s Dystrophy. Fuch’s Dystrophy is a disease in the cornea where the cells that are responsible for clearing fluid die off. When this happens and they’re no longer able to keep fluid from accumulating in the cornea, the cornea swells and vision becomes cloudy and hazy.
• Corneal swelling (edema) that can happen after cataract or other type of eye surgery
• Previous cornea transplant failure

At Mountain States Eye Center, our cornea transplant specialists want to provide the best options available for your corneal transplant surgery, which is why we offer DMEK transplants to the residents of Layton, UT, and the surrounding areas.

DMEK Transplant to See More Clearly

What exactly is a DMEK procedure and how can it be beneficial to you? A DMEK procedure is a partial-thickness surgery that gets rid of the diseased or damaged tissue from the back layers of the cornea and replaces it with donor tissue. A DMEK transplant is a relatively new procedure and differs in effectiveness from other partial-thickness transplants. A DMEK transplant allows for more people to obtain 20/20 vision and have better contrast acuity.

Another benefit is that the rejection rate is much lower than other forms of cornea transplant. A DMEK transplant requires more finesse and skill than other types of procedures, but the ophthalmologists at Mountain States Eye Center have had the training and experience to be successful in such complex surgeries and will be able to provide you with better vision!

What to Expect with a DMEK Transplant

The cornea is an important part of the eye. What it does is it bends and refracts light rays. When someone’s cornea gets milky or misshapen, we do a corneal transplant. A DMEK transplant is a specific type of corneal transplant. It involves using donor membrane and endothelium to replace the innermost layers of the cornea that have been damaged. This procedure allows us to give you an exact anatomic replacement.

A DMEK procedure only takes about 45 minutes to do, and general anesthesia isn’t necessary. So, you can look forward to a quick procedure near Layton, UT. After the DMEK transplant, a gas bubble will be placed in your eye so that the graft will stay in place. An overnight stay in a hospital is unnecessary and you will get to go home afterward.

When you do get home, however, you’ll have to lie down for 24 hours. This is a necessary step so that the air bubble and the graft have maximum contact together. Then for the next two days, you can reduce the time you need to lie down. You can do this by alternating between lying down and standing up every two hours. Antibiotic and steroid drops will also be used during the healing process. And don’t be too concerned if your vision is blurry after the DMEK transplant. It typically takes three to four days before your vision begins to clear up.

Contact Mountain States Eye Center to Learn More about DMEK Transplants

If you reside in the Layton area and think you might be a good candidate for a DMEK transplant, get in touch with Mountain States Eye Center at (801) 277-1087.