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Cornea Surgery Specialist

Specialty Ophthalmologists serving Goodland, KS, and Broomfield, Edwards and Englewood, CO

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Cornea Surgery

Damage to the cornea can substantially diminish your ability to see clearly. At Mile High Eye Institute, which has locations in Denver metro community including Castle Rock, Broomfield, Aurora, Littleton as well as our satellites in Goodland, KS and Edwards, CO, William Richheimer, MD, and Zachary Vest, MD, are leading ophthalmologists with several years of experience in performing cornea surgery. Dr. Richheimer is one of the top cornea specialists in the field. To learn more about cornea surgery, call Mile High Eye Institute or schedule an appointment online today.


What is cornea surgery?

Cornea surgery refers to procedures that repair or replace the clear covering at the front of the eye. The cornea consists of five layers, each serving a specific purpose to ensure that the cornea functions properly and maintains its health. These layers include the:

  • Epithelium
  • Bowman’s membrane
  • Stroma
  • Descemet’s membrane
  • Endothelium

Various eye diseases and injuries can affect the cornea’s individual layers, leading to blurred vision, strained eyes, itchiness, redness, and even vision loss. As a leading corneal specialist, Dr. Richheimer performs many different types of cornea surgery to repair damage at Mile High Eye Institute.

What can cornea surgery treat?

The team at Mile High Eye Institute may recommend cornea surgery to treat a number of eye conditions, including:

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a potentially debilitating condition that causes a bulging or dome-shaped cornea. The disease ultimately breaks down the collagen fibers that make up the corneal tissue, distorting its shape.

Fuchs dystrophy

Fuchs dystrophy is a genetic disease that affects both eyes. It causes the back lining of the cornea — the clear lens at the front of the eye — to deteriorate due to fluid buildup in the endothelium.

Corneal erosion

Corneal erosion, or epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD), is a condition that breaks down the bond between the top two layers of the cornea. Eventually, the epithelium can slough off from this damage, leaving your cornea prone to scratches and other damage.

Pterygium

A pterygium is a growth of conjunctival tissue that typically affects the space closest to the nose. Redness, inflammation, and even corneal scarring from a pterygium can distort your vision.

What are the different types of cornea surgery?

The team performs several different types of cornea surgery at their office, including:

Cornea transplant

A cornea transplant, or keratoplasty, replaces the damaged portion of your cornea with tissue from a donor.

Intacs corneal ring implants

An intac corneal ring implant involves placing a small plastic ring in the center layer of your cornea to treat keratoconus and other conditions that distort the cornea.

Corneal cross linking

Corneal cross linking is a minimally invasive procedure that can slow or prevent the progression of keratoconus and keratoectasia (keratoconus that develops following laser eye surgery).

To learn more about cornea surgery, schedule an eye exam with Mile High Eye Institute. Call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.