DALK

With advancement in corneal surgical techniques, it is now possible to selectively remove the anterior layers from the cornea and replace it with donor tissue to restore its anatomy and function.

DALK is one such procedure wherein the host corneal endothelium is retained, and superficial corneal tissue is replaced with normal thickness donor tissue. As the host endothelium is retained there is minimum risk of rejection. Femtosecond assisted DALK is the most advanced form of anterior lamellar corneal transplantation which is also available at our centre.

DALK can be performed in Corneal ectatic disorders like Keratoconus, Post LASIK Ectasia, Pellucid marginal corneal degeneration (PMCD). The bulged out cornea (forward bending making it a conical shape) in these disorders makes the focus in patient eye distorted and blurry. In this surgery, only front layers of cornea (stroma) is first cut with advanced corneal trephines and later dissected using special techniques and instruments. After this, same layers from a donated cornea is procured and then transplanted over patient’s eye. The ectatic or bulged out cornea is hence replaced by healthy cornea with appropriate shape. Use of Femtosecond laser in this surgery helps in avoiding use of trephine and various blades making it very accurate with diameter and depth of corneal layer transplantation. There is almost negligible risk of graft rejection and failure in this technique of cornea transplantation (Keratoplasty).