You may have a condition that has affected your cornea (the front part of your eye). If your doctor has determined that you need a corneal transplant several options are present. Transplant surgery replaces your cornea with a cornea that has been removed from someone who died. The cornea you will receive is referred to as the donor cornea. The donor cornea to be used for your transplant will be provided by an Eye Bank. Your corneal surgeon may have determined that you are eligible to receive the Deep Lamellar Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Only one part of your cornea is not working properly. The endothelium layer of your cornea is failing and is causing your cornea to become swollen. The endothelium is the layer of cells on the inside surface of your cornea It is this layer that needs to be replaced. Until recently, the only way to replace that layer of cells was with a full thickness corneal transplant.

A split thickness transplant is called a lamellar transplant. This surgery uses a lamellar transplant to replace only the diseased tissue and leave the rest of your cornea intact. In addition, a smaller incision will be used compared to previous DLEK surgeries.

During the surgery a single line incision with a length of only 5 mm is made in the upper sclera (the white part of the eye), a pocket is formed, and the diseased endothelial layer and back surface layer of your cornea will be removed. The donor endothelium and back layer of the donor cornea is then placed through the incision and pocket and placed into position on the back surface of your cornea to replace the diseased tissue which was removed. The initial incision is then closed with one to three small sutures and the procedure is completed.