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Lamellar Keratoplasty
Lamellar keratoplasty involves replacement of your damaged or diseased anterior corneal stroma (middle layer of your cornea) and Bowman's membrane (second layer of your cornea) with donor material. Most of the bottom three layers of your cornea can be preserved. The donor corneal disc becomes repopulated with host cells, and the recipient epithelium usually covers the anterior corneal surface. This procedure is technically more difficult than penetrating keratoplasty. Lamellar keratoplasty has the advantage of being primarily outside the eye, making it a procedure that preserves your endothelium. The risk of rejection becomes less of an issue. The risks of wound leaks or flat anterior chambers associated with an intraocular procedure may be eliminated. Microsurgical techniques have vastly improved the technique of lamellar keratoplasty, but they have also substantially improved the results with penetrating keratoplasty. The use of conjunctival flaps and therapeutic soft contact lenses has reduced the indications for lamellar keratoplasty.
If you believe this procedure to be an option in correcting a corneal problem you suffer from, schedule an evaluation with Dr Snyder to discuss all your options. If another physician has recommended this type of procedure Dr Snyder would be happy to give you a second opinion and possibly offer other option to correct or repair your problem.
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