Alternatives to Corneal Transplants |
| Written by Bruce Cooper & Dr. Dhavid Cooper |
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An amazing advance in eye care for the treatment of corneal dystrophies, corneal scars, and some corneal infections is phototherapeutic keratectomy or PTK. People, who a short while ago would have needed a corneal transplant for these disorders, can now be treated with PTK.
By combining the precise excimer laser with the control of a computer, doctors can vaporize microscopically thin layers of diseased corneal tissue and etch away the surface irregularities associated with many corneal dystrophies and scars. Surrounding areas remain relatively unaffected and new tissue grows over the newly prepared smooth surface. Recovery from the operation is a mere matter of days compared with months for a transplant. Vision is restored rapidly, particularly if the cause of the disorder is confined to the top layer of the cornea. PTK is especially useful for people with inherited disorders and whose scars or other corneal opacities limit vision by blocking the way images form on the retina. Studies reveal an 85% success rate in PTK procedures for treating corneas in well-selected patients. PTK is a procedure that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Research is ongoing, and we find that scientists are learning how transplanting corneal cells from a patient’s healthy eye can treat some conditions that previously would have caused blindness. Recent genetic studies in families suffering corneal dystrophies have provided new insight into 13 corneal dystrophies, including keratoconus. In clinical studies tracking more than 1200 patients with the disease, scientists seek answers to how rapidly their keratoconus will progress, how poor their vision will become, and if they will need corneal surgery to treat it. Related Articles: Corneal Infections Corneal Graft Strabismus Surgery Nystagmus Surgery |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 19:00 |
