The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped, outermost layer of the eye. It serves as a barrier against germs and dust and also plays an essential role in our vision and ability to focus. If the cornea is damaged or diseased the vision can be affected. Corneal disease can range from the simple to the complex.
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If you’re looking for trusted doctors for your cornea surgery in Washington, D.C., or Maryland, Visionary Eye Doctors has the corneal specialists for you! J. Alberto Martinez, M.D. and Daniel Sarezky, M.D. are fellowship-trained cornea specialists with extensive experience in modern cornea transplant techniques. Additionally, Dr. Martinez and Dr. Sarezky are one of the few physicians to offer Corneal Collagen Cross Linking which may prevent cornea transplant surgery for those with keratoconus. Dr. Sarezky completed his fellowship at the internationally renowned Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Martinez has presented on modern cornea transplant surgery at national meetings. Dr. Martinez has performed more than 12,000 pterygiectomies and corneal surgeries combined, with a pterygium recurrence rate of 0.01%. This impressive low recurrence rate has been studied and recognized internationally, positioning Dr. Martinez as one of the top corneal surgeons in the United States.
Your cornea usually heals itself quickly after most minor injuries or infections. But during the healing process, you might experience symptoms like burning, pain, tearing, blurry vision, extreme sensitivity to light, foreign body sensation, and redness.
As such a prominent, exposed part of the eye, the cornea is vulnerable to a host of problems. Various external diseases can affect the cornea and require treatment. Here is a partial list of the corneal disorders we treat:
Many conditions can affect the clarity of the entire cornea. Sometimes corneal failure can also occur after eye surgery, such as cataract surgery. Research done in our office shows the benefits of Pentacam® Scheimpflug Camera Technology to determine the severity of corneal diseases and aid the treatment options.
Most corneal conditions can be treated medically with eye drops, ointments, pills, contact lenses, amniotic membranes, etc. On occasion, office procedures or cornea surgery may be recommended to help improve your symptoms. Office procedures may include the insertion of punctal plugs for dry eyes or the removal of foreign bodies. Surgeries and procedures can include pterygium removal, corneal cross-linking, and corneal transplantation.
At Visionary Eye Doctors we offer an array of cornea surgery procedures in Washington, DC, in our office-based surgery suite and at a state-of-the-art surgery center to treat different diseases and conditions, such as:
At Visionary Eye Doctors, our specialists perform traditional, full-thickness corneal transplants (penetrating keratoplasty), as well as corneal grafts that involve replacing only part of the cornea. Thanks to the latest technology and scientific advances, this common procedure is not as daunting as many people might think.
PKP: Penetrating keratoplasty is often referred to as traditional corneal transplant surgery because it replaces the full thickness of the cornea. During the procedure, a “button” of tissue is removed from the diseased or injured cornea using either a surgical cutting instrument called a trephine or a femtosecond laser. A matching “button” from the donor tissue is then positioned and sutured into place. The sutures, which are finer than a human hair, are left in place for several months to a year or more after surgery.
DSAEK: Descemet’s stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty replaces the permanent damage to the endothelium – the innermost layers of cells within the cornea – while leaving the healthy parts intact. This allows our surgeons to use a much smaller incision, reducing recovery times and risks as compared to a traditional corneal transplant.
DMEK: Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is a partial-thickness corneal graft operation in which only Descemet’s membrane and endothelium are replaced. DMEK is the most advanced form of partial corneal transplant procedure indicated in diseases affecting the innermost, endothelial layer of the cornea. In DMEK surgical procedure, only a single thin layer of cells is replaced, allowing for an exact anatomical replacement of the damaged cells. This technique allows for decreased rates of rejection and faster visual recovery. The other benefit of DMEK is better potential vision (more patients seeing 20/20).
Some corneal conditions, such as certain dystrophies, scars, and viral infections, are eligible for treatment with phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). This is an innovative alternative to corneal transplant for carefully selected patients. PTK utilizes a computer-guided excimer laser to precisely vaporize layers of damaged or diseased corneal tissue, effectively removing the surface irregularities.
The first step in determining your candidacy for your cornea surgery in Washington, DC, or the surrounding areas is to schedule a consultation and experience our comprehensive eye exam. This is the most complete eye exam available today and includes a consultation with one of our experienced surgeons. Utilizing advanced diagnostic technology, our surgeons will not only evaluate your candidacy for various procedures but will look at the overall health of your eyes and establish a long-term plan for your best vision.
If you are a current patient and/or have medical concerns about refractive surgeries, corneal disease, or any other health questions, please contact us directly at 301.896.0890.