Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/56757
++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + ++++++++++++++++++++++++ OPHTHALMOLOGY +++ +++ A Revolutionary Corneal Disease Treatment for FOR PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM CORNEAL DISEASES — CONDITIONS THAT ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF EYE CLINIC VISITS — AN INNOVATIVE TREATMENT MAY OFFER A SOLUTION. F OR PEOPLE SUFFERING from Fuch's Dystrophy — a cor- neal disease — vision gradually worsens as endothelial cells in the cornea deteriorate. This condition, more common in women and people older than 50, causes the stroma — a layer mostly composed of water that makes up about 90% of corneal thickness — to distort in shape and swell. As the condition worsens, the epithelial layer, the outer layer of the cornea, also absorbs water and swells, which causes hazy or blurred vision. People with Fuch's Dystrophy experience vision that is worse in the morning and improves throughout the day and vision that worsens in humid environments. Innovative Surgery, Better Patient Outcomes For patients whose condition is unresponsive to conservative methods, a full corneal transplant, also referred to as penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), was once required to restore vision. Now, a specialized procedure can offer relief from corneal disease with less impact on the patient. Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty, often referred to as DSEK, involves transplanting endothelial cells onto the cornea instead of replacing the entire cornea. Descemet's membrane is the thick corneal layer beneath the stroma that connects stromal cells with endothelial cells, the layer that maintains the fluid balance in the cornea. By replacing this membrane and endothelial cell layer, the surgeon avoids disrupting healthy corneal layers. During the DSEK procedure, the surgeon applies an anesthetic directly to the patient's eye. The unhealthy endothelial cells and Descemet's membrane are removed from the eye through a small incision. The tissue is then replaced with the healthy donor tissue, and the incision is closed with minimal suturing. Patients return home immediately after the procedure, which typically lasts 30 minutes from start to completion. There are numerous benefits for patients undergoing DSEK surgery. Because other corneal layers are not affected by the procedure, the surface of the donor tissue is less likely to be uneven, reducing the risk of astigmatism. This procedure also requires minimal or no suturing. Patients also recover much quicker, improving recovery of PKP from up to a year and a half to just a few weeks with DSEK. "The DSEK procedure has revolutionized the way we perform corneal transplant surgery," says Ralph Chu, M.D., Medical Director at Chu Vision Institute in Bloomington who specializes in cataract surgery, LASIK, corneal transplantation and managing other corneal diseases. "For patients, DSEK has increased safety, shortened visual recovery time and offers better long-term visual outcomes than previous surgical techniques. The procedure can also be combined with cataract surgery for patients with both corneal disease and cataracts." For more information about Chu Vision Institute, visit www.chuvision.com. ■ 16 | Twin Cities MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM