DSAEK & Pterygium Surgery Specialist
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Maryland Vision Center
Ophthalmologists & Eye Surgeons located in Frederick County, Frederick, MD
Patients throughout Frederick and the Baltimore area can go to Maryland Vision Center for their pterygium and DSAEK surgery needs. At the practice, Dr. Thadani is specially trained in the advanced surgical techniques of pterygium surgery and DSAEK surgery.
DSAEK & Pterygium Surgery Q & A
What is Pterygium Surgery?
A pterygium, or stye, is an eye condition which causes the development of a pink growth near the white of the eye. This noncancerous growth usually appears on the side closest to the nose and can cause discomfort. When the growth interferes with vision it can be treated by an ophthalmologist. Usually, steroid drops or vasoconstrictor eye drops are used prior to surgery. If these do not help, surgery is performed to remove the growth. The process takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes and patients are able to return to their normal activities in about a week.
What is DSAEK Surgery?
Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty, or DSAEK, is a surgical technique used in corneal transplants. When the cornea becomes cloudy, hazy, or if the shape is irregular it can interfere with a person’s vision. When the interference becomes severe, a corneal transplant is used to restore a patient’s vision. When the inner layer of the cornea, known as the endothelial layer, is damaged it can cause cloudy vision or vision loss. During the DSAEK procedure the surgeon can target this specific layer and replace the damaged cells with a thin layer of a donor cornea. This allows the doctor to replace only the damaged layer and makes the procedure much more precise. This improves the overall results of the surgery.
What Should I Expect from DSAEK Surgery?
The surgery will be a complex procedure and patients are recommended to come to the office an hour before their scheduled time. There will be pre-operative medications provided to the patient and they cannot eat anything after midnight the night before. The procedure itself will take about an hour and then the patient will have to lie back flat on his or her back. This is done so that air can push up the cornea and hold the new transplant tissue in place. Once the tissue has adhered to the cornea, it will start to function. Fluid will be pumped out of the cornea and the person’s vision will begin to clear. The vision should improve rapidly, with final results achieve in one to six months.
