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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What Patients Say
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CORNEAL SURGERY
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.
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.
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.
Corneal ulcers may be treated by corneal surgery. It’s usually done after other medical treatment options have already failed.
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.
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