Corneal Conditions

Long Island Corneal Surgery

As the outermost layer of the eye, the cornea serves two purposes: to shield the rest of the eye from harmful outside particles and to function as the outermost lens and control and focus the entry of light into the eye. Though the cornea is strong and durable, it is not invincible. Corneas can become irritated, infected, cloudy, abnormally thin or irregularly shaped.

Corneal problems should only be handled by an experienced and wholly qualified team. The knowledgeable eye doctors at TOC Eye® are experienced in a variety of corneal disorders. We are the preferred practice of individuals suffering from conditions like keratoconus and other corneal problems.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea is abnormally curved. It occurs when the middle of the cornea thins and starts to bulge outward to form a conical shape. Without the proper curvature, the cornea cannot focus light, and severe vision problems result. Keratoconus is normally managed by wearing eyeglasses or specially fitted contact lenses, and sometimes the cornea stabilizes on its own. However, when eyeglasses and contacts can no longer compensate for the visual deficiency, there are other keratoconus treatment options for Long Island patients to explore with the TOC Eye® team.

What is Corneal Surgery?

When the cornea is too cloudy, light cannot penetrate it and visual problems (and blindness) may result. Corneal transplant is the process of removing the diseased or scarred cornea and replacing it with a clear cornea, usually obtained from an eye bank. Corneal transplant surgery is common in the United States and should be left to a trained eye surgeon, such as the team at TOC Eye®.

What are Alternatives to Corneal Surgery

It is not always necessary to remove and replace the entire cornea if a portion of it is diseased. As leaders in eye surgery, TOC Eye® offers several worthy alternatives to corneal surgery. These procedures are less invasive than conventional cornea transplant and often have rapid recovery with minimal side effects.

Descemet’s stripping with endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) is another technique to selectively treat corneal swelling after cataract surgery (or stemming from Fuch’s dystrophy) without replacing the entire cornea.

Another alternative to corneal transplant or other corneal procedures is Intacs corneal implants. Similar to soft contact lenses, Intacs correct the shape of the cornea to treat mild nearsightedness or keratoconus. They can be used as a first line of defense against corneal problems; other vision correction solutions can be discussed later if needed.

Talk to Our Eye Experts

To learn more about any of the corneal treatment options offered at TOC Eye®, please call 631-751-2020 or contact us via our email form today.