Cornea Transplant Surgery Near West Jordan, UT

Cornea transplant surgery allows you to see clearly, and with minimal risk, and it’s a great option for many patients who suffer from certain eye conditions. At Mountain States Eye Center near West Jordan, UT, we offer a DMEK procedure that not only provides 20/20 vision, but it also offers a faster recovery and is less likely to be rejected by the body. In just a few weeks after your cornea transplant, you will have noticeably improved eyesight. The first step is to speak with our eye doctor who will evaluate the condition of your eyes to see if you’re a good candidate for this type of surgery. In some cases, it might make sense to undergo a traditional cornea surgery, which replaces the entire thing. Otherwise, a partial thickness replacement of the cornea will provide the improvement you’re looking for.

During the initial consultation, our ophthalmologist discusses every detail of the DMEK transplant with our patients. We want you to feel comfortable and have peace of mind during every stage of the process. With the information we provide, you will know exactly what to expect from the cornea transplant procedure. Learn more about our services and schedule a consultation at our clinic right away.

What is a DMEK Transplant?

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) transplants use an extremely thin and fragile layer of donor tissue to replace diseased tissue from the back of the patient’s cornea. Descemet membrane is meant to protect the lining of the cornea, known as the endothelium, which is made up of a single layer of cells. This procedure is done when the cornea is diseased, misshapen, or makes the patient’s vision cloudy. Our eye doctor may recommend a corneal transplant because it can reduce pain, improve its appearance, and restore your vision.

While a traditional transplant involves replacing the entire cornea, a DMEK procedure only requires a partial thickness transplant in order to address the diseased or damaged cornea. There are plenty of human donors in the United States, so it’s typically not a problem finding a donor cornea to complete the procedure. This is because there is no tissue matching required, which means there normally isn’t a long waiting list. Usually, the donor is someone who has died and didn’t have any prior eye surgeries, eye diseases, or other diseases that can spread to the patient. As with any surgery, there is some degree of risk, so it’s important to consider the serious complications that might arise. However, this treatment option is still widely considered safe. Speak with our ophthalmologist to see if you’re a good candidate for a cornea transplant.

What to Expect From the Procedure

It’s important to know what to expect before entering surgery and undergoing work on such a fragile area. You’ll be administered a sedative before the cornea transplant, so you’ll be completely at ease while we’re correcting your vision. The sedative we provide you has the twofold effect of relaxing you and numbing the localized area. We put our patients to sleep as well, although you won’t feel pain regardless. We’ll work on each eye individually to provide safe and careful treatment since we’ll be working on the cornea, which of course is very delicate. The amount of time you’ll be in surgery will vary depending on other pre-existing eye conditions. We use the latest advancements in medicine and surgical tools to make precise corneal transplantations. Our doctor’s skilled hand and techniques ensure that the surgery will go smoothly and that you will recover swiftly with no complications.

Care Instructions After the Surgery

After we finish up the surgery, you will be sent home to recover, where you will follow care instructions for healing the affected eye. We will prescribe oral medications to alleviate the pain, control infection, and reduce swelling. Eye drops may also help to prevent your eye from rejecting the donor cornea we transplanted to replace the old diseased tissue. It suppresses the immune system, so the corneal tissue will more easily be accepted and integrated into the eye. During the healing process, you should lie down and wear protective eye glasses. You should be patient as you get back to your usual daily activities. Rubbing or pressing on your eye is dangerous because it could injure it further, so remember to take the necessary precautions to take care of your eyes to avoid problems in the future. Regularly scheduled follow-up exams will be required for the next year in order to keep track of progress and any complications that might arise.

Results From Corrective Cornea Transplant

It will take some time for your eye to adjust for the next several months after a DMEK procedure. After this initial recovery period, you will begin to notice improved vision at least partially from what it was before the surgery. Annual monitoring to keep an eye on the progress of your eyesight is crucial. For years after surgery, you’re still at risk for your eye to reject the donor cornea. If this were to happen, there are medications you can take to mitigate it. We can also release or tighten stitches made during your cornea transplant to help reduce blurry vision from an uneven surface of the cornea. It may also be beneficial to wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses that address issues such as near or farsightedness and refractive errors. Otherwise, laser eye surgery may be the best solution depending on your eye conditions.

Is a DMEK Procedure the Best Choice?

This type of replacement surgery for the back layer is advised for patients with certain conditions such as pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (swelling after cataract surgery) or Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Other conditions may include the tearing of the cornea, scarring, ulcers, and swelling. Depending on your condition, our ophthalmologist will recommend that you replace either partial thickness or full thickness of the diseased or damaged cornea of the affected eye. We’ll begin with a consultation in which we do a thorough examination of the eye in order to determine whether existing conditions may cause complications after completing the surgery.

If you’re deemed to be a good candidate for cornea replacement surgery, then we’ll take measurements to fit you with a donor cornea of a suitable size. We’ll also reduce the risk of complications by advising you to temporarily stop taking medications or supplements that could delay the process. We will provide treatment for any eye inflammation or infection before the surgery, so it doesn’t interfere with your recovery. Our clinic will handle the entire process, from finding a donor to ensuring that you follow the right aftercare instructions for the best results possible. Don’t hesitate to speak with our eye doctor to see whether a DMEK transplant is the best choice for you.

Schedule a Consultation for a DMEK Procedure

Mountain States Eye Center is an ophthalmology practice located near the West Jordan, UT, area that offers comprehensive eye care in our fully equipped, state-of-the-art facility. Our eye doctor is a board-certified ophthalmologist who is skilled in cornea transplant procedures for patients with certain conditions. We encourage patients to schedule an appointment with our clinic to get their eyes evaluated and determine if they’re good candidates for a cornea transplant procedure. It’s important to learn about the risks involved and the complications you may experience. Our doctor takes special precautions to ensure that patients are safe and ready to undergo treatment, so that everything will go smoothly during and after surgery.

Book your appointment time with our experienced ophthalmologist and get the treatments you need to see more clearly. Patients who have taken the necessary steps to be cleared for surgery typically have a successful recovery period and are able to regain their vision and have a renewed quality of life. Don’t let your eye condition diminish your eyesight and day-to-day activities when there is an effective solution you can take. Schedule your consultation with us right away and get one step closer to better vision.

Contact Us for a Cornea Replacement Surgery

If you’re suffering from eye conditions that affect your vision and cause you pain, it’s time to see a skilled ophthalmologist about your treatment options. The eye doctor at Mountain States Eye Center is here to evaluate the condition of your eyes to see if cornea replacement surgery is the best option for you. Depending on the types of symptoms you’re experiencing, a DMEK procedure may offer the relief you want with only a partial transplant of the tissue in the back of the cornea. We remove only the diseased layer and replace it with a new donor cornea that is typically accepted by the body without issue.

We will let you know how to prepare for surgery and how to recover afterwards when you are sent home. You will be asked to return for follow up visits to ensure that everything is going well and track the progress you’re making in terms of having clearer vision. Contact us today (801) 277-1087 to schedule an initial consultation and see if a cornea transplant is the right choice for you