Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is an advanced surgical procedure in ophthalmology to treat corneal issues. It involves selectively transplanting the corneal stroma to preserve the two innermost layers of the cornea, viz., descemet’s membrane and the endothelium. Read on to learn more about DALK if you or a loved one is diagnosed with keratoconus and corneal scars.
What Is Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty?
To the uninitiated, anterior lamellar refers to replacing diseased or damaged corneal tissues with a healthy donor tissue. The procedure helps preserve the endothelium, i.e., a layer of cells that line the interior surface of the blood vessels in the eyes. Thus, Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty involves dissecting the cornea to remove its diseased layers, while retaining the healthy innermost layer called endothelium.
Who Needs Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty?
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty is an effective treatment for any problems in the anterior cornea as long as the patient has an intact and functioning endothelium. Some of the common reasons for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty include Keratoconus and Corneal Scars. Patients with Keratoconus are especially good candidates for the procedure because endothelium is healthy, and they are typically young. Some of the other reasons for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty include Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, Corneal Dystrophies, and patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid. Patients with chemical and thermal burns can also undergo Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty.
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Procedure
There are several approaches to Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty. For instance, one method involves removing the host anterior corneal tissues layer by layer until the deep stroma or the descemet’s membrane is accessed. Here’s what happens during a Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty procedure.
Before surgery, your eyes will be examined to assess the extent of corneal damage and ensure that you are suitable for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty. During the procedure, an anesthesiologist will administer anaesthesia before starting the corneal dissection. The surgeon will then carefully remove the diseased or damaged layers of the cornea and then replace the healthy corneal tissue from a donor, meticulously placing and securing it on the patient. At the end of the procedure, the surgical site is closed, and a protective bandage is placed on the eye. The surgeon may also place contact lenses over the eyes for added protection.
Of late, surgeons have been using new techniques to decrease surgical times and improve the success rate of Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty. These include intrastromal air injection, hydrodelamination, viscoelastic dissection, big bubble technique, anterior chamber air technique, and using donor eye.
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Post-Operative Care
After surgery, you will be prescribed eyedrops to prevent an infection and promote healing. The surgeon may advise refraining from strenuous activities and rubbing your eyes. You must attend follow-up appointments to monitor progress.
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Success Rate
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty is a fairly safe procedure with over 96.7 percent at 10 years and 95.6% at 20 years.
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Recovery Time
The recovery time for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty is around one year. Patients are monitored closely during this time to ensure normal healing. However, recovery can vary from one patient to another. Also, there may be some initial discomfort, with patients experiencing blurry vision.
Benefits Of Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty
There are several advantages of Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty. These include better chances of endothelial acceptance and graft success, faster visual recovery and better visual outcomes. You don’t have to depend on steroids for a long time, thereby preserving the eye’s structural integrity.
However, as with any other procedure, Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty also carries risks. This includes a risk of infection, inflammation, graft rejection, corneal transplantation, etc.
Treating Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty in Nagercoil
If you are looking for a hospital offering treatment for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty in Nagercoil, visit Calwin Hospitals. We are one of the best hospitals in Nagercoil striving to bring clarity to your vision with our cutting-edge technology and compassionate care to help you see clearly.