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Corneal Surgery

Corneal Surgery
in Hawaii

Corneal surgeries are designed to address a variety of medical eye conditions. They are mostly used to correct vision loss but also help to correct corneal swelling, infections, or irregularities. Here’s what you need to know about Corneal surgery offered at EyeSight Hawaii in Honolulu and Maui Hawaii.

Keratoconus and Collagen Cross-Linking in Hawaii

Keratoconus or KC is a weakening of the eyes’ corneas due to genetic factors and excessive eye-rubbings. It often starts in the early teen years with decreased vision and usually goes undetected.

In the early stages of keratoconus, people might experience slight blurring of vision, distortion of vision, and increased sensitivity to light. Since the cornea is responsible for focusing most of the light that comes into the eye, all these conditions can result in significant vision loss and may lead to cornea transplant surgery in severe cases.

If the vision is uncorrectable with glasses, then keratoconus screenings should be performed by a specialist ophthalmologist. The screenings are very quick and involve just a few scans that can quickly detect keratoconus and help avoid a lifetime of poor vision due to untreated disease. Early diagnosis is extremely important because it allows for keratoconus treatments before symptoms become severe.

Keratoconus may be treated with an advanced procedure called corneal cross-linking, this effective treatment involves using special eye drop medications and exposing the eyes to ultraviolet light to strengthen the weakened cornea. This corneal surgery for keratoconus can help to prevent the progression of keratoconus and preserve vision.

EyeSight Hawaii was the first to begin offering Collagen Cross-Linking in Hawaii over 5 years ago immediately after the FDA approval.

Lateral view of a patient with a keratoconic cornea
Keratoconus is often treated with collagen

Woman's eye with corneal dystrophy due to Keratoconus condition
Cornea surgeries are typically quick procedures.

What is CorneaL surgery?

The cornea is the outermost layer of your eye, made up of three layers: inner epithelial tissue, middle stroma, and outer endothelium. These layers help to protect the eyes from injury and infection. However, these layers can become damaged in a variety of different ways, causing pain and even loss of vision.

Not all surgeries are the same, especially for the cornea. Depending on the reason, there are different customized surgeries for specific patients. Regular procedures include full-thickness corneal surgeries, partial-thickness surgeries, as well as corneal transplant surgery like endothelial keratoplasty. All of these treatment options are usually performed on an outpatient basis.

Cornea surgeries are typically quick procedures. Most surgeries can be done in approximately 1 hour and patients are allowed to go home the same day of the surgery.

Background

THE BENEFITS OF A CORNEAL SURGERY

Corneal surgery restores vision by repairing damaged tissue. It is the main purpose of doing the procedure. Both genetic and environmental causes can lead to corneal injury, which can be treated through corneal surgery.

Some corneal injuries may not be serious enough to cause blindness. If an injury causes damage deep within the eye, it may cause partial vision loss. Treatment by a professional is still required for these corneal conditions.

Genetic factors may include hereditary eye conditions such as progressive keratoconus, Fuch’s dystrophy, and Graft vs. Host Disease. These conditions affect the eyes to varying extents but may limit vision.

Depending on the reason for which cornea surgery was performed, there may be several different benefits associated with it. Corneal surgery can help prevent bulging in the corneas, which can affect your eyesight and, in some cases cause them to appear different from normal. Surgeries can also help eliminate eye discomfort caused by the damaged cornea.

MODERN CORNEAL SURGERY BENEFITS

Corneal diseases were once exclusively treated by performing a full-thickness cornea procedure. For any given surgical procedure, this one was used to treat several different types of eye conditions. Individuals who had previously failed surgery can now get customized procedures to treat their conditions.

New approaches allow physicians to provide more precise treatments. These methods may involve grafting techniques, which help to shorten surgery times. Thin tissue grafts are now commonly used to speed up the healing process.

Some people can experience improved vision within just one month or even less.

An optometrist uses a tonometer on a woman during a corneal treatment consultation
Vision loss is not always due to corneal damage.

THE INITIAL CORNEAL SURGERY CONSULTATION

Blindness or any degree of vision loss is not always due to damaged corneas. Some of these symptoms may not be related to the eyes at all. To better understand these conditions, a corneal evaluation in Honolulu or Maui is necessary.

During a visit to our office, we’ll ask patients about their medical history, including any previous eye conditions they’ve had, whether they’re taking any prescription drugs, and if so, which ones, and anything else that might be relevant to their condition. We’ll then perform a comprehensive eye examination to determine exactly what’s going on.

CORNEAL EXAM

An ophthalmic exam is performed to assess the current state of the eyes and determine whether additional tests are necessary.  This corneal evaluation is performed by a trained optometrist who uses a professional and high-powered microscope.

It’s designed to detect subtle signs that might indicate the cornea isn’t getting enough oxygen. To check for abnormalities in the corneal tissue, corneal surgeons look at the top layer of the eye.

An eye exam isn’t painful and can be done quite quickly. Before looking through a lens, patients may be asked to use eye drop medication. If the patient is using contacts, he/she will need to take them out before the exam.


CORNEAL SURGERY PREPARATION

Patients who undergo any kind of surgery will be required to follow the instructions given by their eye surgeon.

Patients often do not wear contact lenses for several days before the procedure. Also, they need to follow certain dietary guidelines. These specifics vary from person to person.

Corneal surgery patient taking out their contacts before treatment
In most cases, finding a donor takes only a few days.

How long does corneal surgery take to complete
The surgery can take less than an hour to complete.

CORNEA SURGERY: HOW IT WORKS

There are several different kinds of cornea surgery currently available. Full thickness is one of the procedures most often used for cornea conditions. Endothelial surgery, deep anterior lamella keratoplasty, and keratoprostheses are other surgical options for more specific medical issues

Patients usually undergo both general and local anesthetics to numb the area around their eyes. It prevents unnecessary movements of the eyes.

Depending on the type of procedure, the surgery can be completed within one to two hours. However, highly specialized surgeries such as keratoprosthesis focus on the ocular surfaces and severe corneal diseases. These procedures may take up more time to perform.


CORNEAL SURGERY RECOVERY

Patients who undergo surgery on their eyes should avoid sleeping on their backs. Sleeping on your back may cause pressure on the eyeball. In addition, if you rub your eyes, you can damage them permanently. To protect yourself from these problems, you should wear an eyemask at night. Also, you can apply ointment on the affected areas.

Blurred vision may occur immediately after surgery, but it usually goes away within a week or so. You can resume working normally within one to two days after the surgery.

Post corneal surgery patient during an eye examination with a Snellen chart
It is perfectly normal to have blurry vision initially.

What Patients Say

People take good care of you there all in good time. They listen to your input and work with you to improve your vision. I am more than satisfied with the care I have received at Eyesight Hawaii.

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Well; I can’t say enough great things about Dr. Olkowski and his entire team at EyeSight Hawaii. I started seeing Dr. Olkowski a few years ago after another clinic made substantial mistake. I ended…

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Such an awesome experience, had lasik done, so easy, don’t regret at all!!! Best thing I ever did during covid, wonderful service, staff and doctors!!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

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Pleasant atmosphere and polite people here. Appointments are generally taken on time, overall very good experience.

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I picked EyeSight Hawaii to have laser eye surgery done. What sealed the deal for me was the great customer service, I could really feel they cared about providing a great experience. I love the…

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Love everyone at EyeSight Hawaii! I always feel valued and in great care at EyeSight Hawaii. Dr. Olkowski is the best in curing my eye problems and communicating with me explaining all my medical…

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Very up-to-date and well-trained medical support staff, high-tech diagnostic equipment, thoroughly professional ophthalmologists. And competitive pricing for services. Best eye care facility in…

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From setting the first appointment to having the surgery, to being outfitted with my new Maui Jim’s, and finally the follow-up appointments, this was a fantastic experience. If you are having trouble…

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Everyone was literally friendly and helpful, from the moment I checked in to checking out. Dr. Dash is one of a kind, very humble, and very charismatic. I can see why he loves his job because he…

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CORNEAL SURGERY

Does a cornea surgery require the doctor to remove the entire cornea?

It depends on the person and the condition. Corneal surgeries can be performed to either completely remove the corneal tissue or just part of it.

What if a donor doesn’t have the same blood type as me?

Donors don’t need to be the same blood type as recipients for this specific procedure. Anyone who follows the FDA guidelines for donating their corneas can be a donor.

Can I get surgery if I’ve had other eye surgeries?

Usually, yes, you can, but it mostly depends on the specific case. Once the initial eye exam is done, your eye doctor will have a better understanding of your case.

Will surgery treat corneal ulcers?

Corneal ulcers may be treated by corneal surgery. It’s usually done after other medical treatment options have already failed.

How Much Does a Cornea Surgery Cost?

Most times, cornea surgery is covered by insurance, but there may be some exceptions. Other factors to consider include the severity of the disease and the type of operation needed.

Without health coverage, the cost of surgery for advanced cases of cornea disease ranges from $13,000 to $28,000. To get an accurate estimate, book an initial consultation. It can help you get more information about the condition and the surgery choices.


Contact Us Today

Doctors John Olkowski, Kristin Hirabayashi, Michael Dash, and Monika Malecha are highly skilled in a variety of techniques for advanced eye surgery. For a comprehensive overview of treatment options and corneal transplant surgery cost at EyeSight Hawaii in Maui and Honolulu, Hawaii, please contact us today at 808-746-3869.