The clear outer layer of your eyes, called the cornea, is responsible for focusing light and images for the retina and optical nerve to give your sense of vision. This thin layer on the front of the eye is susceptible to damage, injury, or other condition which can make your vision cloudy or foggy.

In many cases, these conditions will subside on their own or with conservative treatments such as eye drops or other treatment methods. In more severe cases, the damaged part of the cornea must be replaced to regain clear vision.

Previously, the best option for resolving corneal issues was a complete corneal transplant using donor tissue. This was a relatively successful procedure. However, it also came with a rather extensive recovery period and was not without risks of tissue rejection or procedure failure.

Now, instead of replacing the entire cornea, ophthalmologists like Dr. Jeffrey Maehara are able to perform Descement-Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK). This new procedure delicately and precisely removes only the damaged layers of the cornea, leaving the healthy tissue intact.

Patients who undergo DSAEK are able to return home the same day of the treatment and, with the anesthetics used, feel only minor pressure during the procedure. Although patients must refrain from bending below the waist or doing any strenuous activity or exercise for the first three weeks following the procedure, recovery is relatively easy with a great success rate.

The DSAEK procedure allows Dr. Maehara to help patients regain their vision with a higher success rate and a much shorter recovery than a complete replacement of the cornea. There may be some changes in your vision, including periodic blurriness, for a few months after the procedure. Still, these are temporary, and most patients are able to see better after 3 months.

Since many of the tissues that make up the cornea do not grow back if damaged or injured, the partial replacement offered by DSAEK is a safe and effective way to regain your clear vision. If you have chronic blurriness or fogginess in your vision, call Maehara Eye Surgery and Laser in Honolulu, HI, at 808-955-3937 or visit www.maeharaeyes.com to schedule an exam today.