Cornea and Refractive Surgery (LASIK & more)

For the last several years, the refractive surgeries has been upgraded the third generation MEL 80 laser from Carl Zeiss which has capability to treat Farsightedness, Near Sightedness and Astigmatism. We currently offer the Femto-Second laser for all painless eye correction and also outpatient corneal graft surgeries.

LASIK (Laser Assisted in situ keratomileusis), commonly referred to as laser eye surgery, is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of Short Sightedness (Myopia), Far Sightedness (Hyperopia) and Astigmatism. LASIK surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses a laser or microkeratome to reshape the eye’s cornea in order to improve vision. For most patients, LASIK provides a permanent alternative to eyeglasses or contact lens.

Patients with high refractive error not fit for Lasik/LASEK or Photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) or PARK can be corrected with an intraocular surgery called Phakic intraocular lens implantation. Phakic intraocular lens is a special kind of intraocular lens that is implanted surgically in to the eye to correct myopia (near-sightedness). They are called “phakic” because the eye’s natural lens is left untouched. This is in contrast to intraocular lenses that are implanted into eyes after the eye’s natural lens has been removed during cataract surgery.

Keratoconus is a degenerative disorder of the eye in which structural changes within the cornea cause it to thin and change to a more conical shape than its normal gradual curve.

Keratoconus can cause substantial distortion of vision, with multiple images, streaking and sensitivity to light all often reported by the patient. It is typically diagnosed in the patient’s adolescent years. If afflicting both eyes, the deterioration in vision can affect the patient’s ability to drive a car or read normal print. In most cases, corrective contact lenses fitted by a specialist are effective enough to allow the patient to continue to drive legally and likewise function normally. Further progression of the disease may require surgery, for which several options are available, including intrastromal corneal rings, collagen cross-linking, mini asymmetric radial keratotomy and, in 25% of cases, corneal transplantation. We are also combining LASIK eye surgery with Collagen cross linkage in LASIK EXTRA procedure.

Complications of full thickness corneal transplants are mostly related to vascularization of the corneal tissue and rejection of the donor cornea. However, one way of reducing the risk of rejection is to use a technique called deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). In a DALK graft, only the outermost epithelium and the main bulk of the cornea, the stroma, are replaced; the patient’s inner-most endothelium layer and the Descemet’s membrane are left, giving some additional structural integrity to the post-graft cornea.

Besides these, Al Zahra Hospital also provides treatment for ocular surface disorders with limbal stem cell transplantation and amniotic membrane graft. We also perform the DSAEK for corneal endothelial problem using the Tan’s Glide.

Complications of full thickness corneal transplants are mostly related to vascularization of the corneal tissue and rejection of the donor cornea. However, one way of reducing the risk of rejection is to use a technique called deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). In a DALK graft, only the outermost epithelium and the main bulk of the cornea, the stroma, are replaced; the patient’s inner-most endothelium layer and the Descemet’s membrane are left, giving somev additional structural integrity to the post-graft cornea.

Besides these, Al Zahra Hospital also provides treatment for ocular surface disorders with limbal stem cell transplantation and amniotic membrane graft. We also perform the DSAEK for corneal endothelial problem using the Tan’s Glide.