Corneal Transplant, also known as corneal
Grafting is a medical procedure of treating patients suffering from chronic
corneal damage. The complete replacement of the cornea is known as penetrating
keratoplasty whereas partial replacement is known as lamellar keratoplasty.
Either of the two surgeries is performed depending upon the area of cornea
affected. Corneal injuries can be very traumatic as these directly impact the
ability of a person to see clearly. Keratoconus surgery in India has
gained a lot of momentum in the recent past. You can find some of the best keratoconus hospitals in India
which have equipped with all sorts of machinery based on latest technological
advancement that help to give very accurate and precise outcomes. Keratoconus lasik treatment in India
has helped to restore the normal functioning of eyes in a large number of
patients. Keratoconus treatment cost in
India lies somewhere between 1.5 lakhs to 3 lakhs which are comparatively
cheaper than other countries, hereby making the surgical option available for
the majority of people.
The
eyes are the most sensitive organs of the human body which enable us to see.
The proper functioning of the eyes is extremely important for living in normal
life. Although eye defects do not pose a threat to your life, however, these
can severely affect the quality of your life making you dependent upon others
and preventing you from performing normal day to day activities. Our eyes can
get affected by the various impurities present in the environment, unhealthy
lifestyle practices like spending hours in front of a television screen and
prevailing medical conditions. Eye defects may also be congenital i.e present
since birth and genetic i.e passed down from the parents to the children.
Although some of the eye defects can be treated easily why the use of eye drops
and oral medication however in extreme cases eye transplants may also be
required. Out of the various eye defects that quite prevalent nowadays corneal
eye diseases are quite common.
The
cornea is the uppermost layer of the eye that enables the light to enter the
eyes. Since the cornea is the outermost part of the eye, it is quite vulnerable
to all the impurities present in the atmosphere and gets easily affected by
unhealthy lifestyle practices. A recent
survey has shown that corneal eye defects are the fourth most common cause of
blindness in the people nowadays. The damaged cornea can severely affect your
vision by distorting the light coming from the objects. This leads to glaring
or blurring of vision and ultimately complete loss of sight. Mild corneal
defects can be treated by the use of eyeglasses and lenses however in severe
cases a surgery might be required. Corneal transplant surgeries involve the replacement of the damaged corneal tissue
with healthy tissue taken from an eye Bank.
One
of the most common corneal eye defects is Keratoconus. It is a progressive eye
disease in which the cornea of the person becomes very thin and starts to bulge
out in a cone shape. As a result of this, the light entering the light entering
the eye gets deflected leading to distorted vision. The problem can affect
either of the two eyes or both eyes simultaneously. It usually starts showing
its traces when a person is in the early 20's and keeps on progressing. The
common symptoms of Keratoconus include irregularity in the shape of the cornea,
Myopia, astigmatism, distorted and blurred vision, glaring and light
sensitivity.
The
problem is usually caused by weakening of the cornea as a result of which it
dilates and becomes thin. It can be triggered by enzyme imbalance which makes
the cornea more vulnerable to oxidative damage from free radicals. As a result
of which the cornea starts to bulge out. The problem is usually genetic and may
affect more than one member of the same family. It can also be triggered by
exposure to unhealthy radiations of the sun, excessive rubbing of eyes, chronic
eye infection etc.
The
surgical treatment for keratoconus includes corneal Cross-linking or CXL. The
procedure aims at strengthening the corneal tissues hereby preventing the
bulging out of the cornea. Corneal cross-linking can be performed in two
different ways epithelium-on and epithelium-off.
Epithelium-on
is commonly known as transepithelial crosslinking. In this method, the corneal
epithelium is left intact. The procedure is a bit longer than its
epithelium-off but ensures reduced risks of infections, minimal discomfort and
faster recovery.
Epithelium-off,
on the other hand, involves the removal of the corneal epithelium to allow the
entry of riboflavin. This is later activated with the help of UV light. The
procedures are to be carried out very carefully as there is a higher risk of
infection.
Apart
from surgical methods, other techniques may also be used which involve corneal
transplant and use of contact lenses.
It
is very important to treat the problem in time as any delay can lead to
complete Visual impairment thereby affecting the quality of the patient's life.
After the surgery, the patient has to give complete rest to his eyes and ensure
that guys are not subjected to any strain for some time. Direct sunlight and
excessive use of gadgets should be avoided. The doctor may prescribe certain
eye drops which should be used on time. In case of any irritation or
discomfort, an ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately.
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