A pterygium is a pink, fleshy tissue which grows over the conjunctiva and edge of the cornea. The major reasons for undertaking pterygium surgery include:
Corneal transplantation is used to treat diseases of the cornea. A corneal transplant involves replacing the diseased cornea with that from a deceased donor. This tissue is prepared and certified safe for use by the Lyons Eye Bank.
Sometimes corneal disease is limited to the front or back layer of the cornea and may be treated by a corneal transplant which involves replacing only the diseased portion. Such operations are becoming more common and often allow faster visual recovery. In other patients the entire cornea must be replaced.
(also known as DSAEK or DMEK) is a form of transplant used to replace the delicate inner layer of the cornea through a relatively small incision. These transplants offer faster visual recovery than traditional full thickness transplants and are used where only the inner layer of the cornea is not functioning.
Keratoconus is a disorder of the cornea, the clear window at the front of the eye. It causes the cornea to develop an irregular bulge, and to become very steep. This causes blurry vision and makes it increasingly difficult to improve the vision with spectacles. In a significant number of patients, the disease gets progressively worse, and the vision deteriorates. Patients may require rigid contact lenses to see clearly whilst some patients may eventually require a corneal transplant.
Corneal Cross-linking is a relatively new procedure, in which Riboflavin (vitamin B2) drops are applied to the cornea, followed by the application of an ultra-violet light (UVA). This treatment is now routinely used to stabilise keratoconus. Cross-linking causes the cornea to harden and whilst it does not return the cornea to its normal shape, it may stop kerataconus and the vision from getting worse.