Corneal Disease and Treatment

The cornea is a part of the eye that impacts your ability to see the world clearly. As the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, the cornea acts like a window that controls and focuses the entry of light into the eye. It’s vital for good vision, yet various conditions can affect the cornea, causing reduced vision or even blindness if not properly addressed. At St. Cloud Eye Clinic, we specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal diseases to preserve and restore vision, so that you can get back to seeing clearly.

What Are Corneal Diseases?

Corneal disease is a term that refers to a few different conditions that affect the cornea. These include—but are not limited to—keratoconus, Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, and scarring that was caused by injury or infection.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Some of the more common symptoms of corneal disease might include blurred vision, pain in the eye, redness, extreme sensitivity to light, and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. Early detection is one of the best ways to correct this issue and get your vision back on track.

Personalized Treatments

The kind of treatment we will provide depends on the specific type of corneal disease and its severity. In the earlier stages, treatments might include medicated eye drops, lenses to correct vision distortion or minor surgery. For some of the more advanced cases—particularly when the cornea becomes clouded or scarred—a corneal transplant may be necessary.

Innovations in Corneal Transplants

The team at St. Cloud Eye Clinic is proud to offer the latest advancements in corneal transplants. Traditional full-thickness transplants have been largely supplanted by partial-thickness procedures, which are less invasive and offer quicker recovery times. Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty and Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty are two procedures that replace only the damaged layer of the cornea rather than the entire cornea. These techniques can also be performed concurrently with cataract surgery, allowing you to make the most of your operations.

For more cornea information, visit us online. Here, we offer in-depth answers to some commonly asked questions.

Our Commitment to Providing Unmatched Care

Our commitment at St. Cloud Eye Clinic goes far beyond just treating corneal conditions. Sharing helpful information about their eye health and the steps they can take to protect their vision is one of the many ways that we keep our patients healthy and informed. Here, we believe in a patient-centered approach, so that you receive personalized care that is curated specifically for you.

Treatment Overview

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Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty, or DSEK, is a partial thickness corneal transplant that requires a thin piece of donor tissue to be placed on the back surface of the cornea. Prior to the development of DSEK, the only options for patients with reduced vision or blindness due to corneal disease was complete corneal transplant. During a DSEK, or the even thinner DMEK procedure, only the innermost layer of the cornea, the endothelium, is transplanted, reducing incision size and recovery times.

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Realistic Expectations

Return of best vision after corneal transplant surgery may be recognized in as little as 2 weeks for DMEK, while it may take up to a year after a full thickness transplant. The success rate for corneal transplants depends on the cause of the clouding. If your doctor decides that a corneal transplant is an option for you, you will be given additional information that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed.

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Visit St. Cloud Eye Clinic for Your CorneaCare

If you’re experiencing symptoms of corneal disease or are looking for care for an existing condition, St. Cloud Eye Clinic is here for you. Between our advanced diagnostic tools and our specialized treatment options, we can guarantee that you will receive the best possible care in our hands.

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