About Cornea Transplants
The skilled team at Kirk Eye Center in River Forest and Gurnee, IL performs partial-thickness corneal transplants (DSAEK and DMEK) for patients who have cornea disease or injuries. A corneal transplant involves surgically excising the diseased or damaged portion of the cornea and replacing it with a healthy donor sample. Our expert surgical team utilizes advanced technology to carry out the most successful partial-thickness cornea transplant and produce optimal results.
- DSAEK:
Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) is a partial-thickness corneal transplant that is performed to remove both the Descemet's membrane and endothelium layers of the cornea. Both parts are then replaced with healthy donor tissue. This surgery uses a thinner layer of donor tissue compared to a full transplant. - DMEK:
Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) is a partial-thickness corneal transplant similar to DSAEK, but it utilizes an even thinner sample of endothelial tissue to improve a patient's vision.
Who Is a Candidate for Cornea Transplant?
Patients who have been affected by the following symptoms may be candidates for a partial-thickness cornea transplant:
- Deep corneal scarring
- Blurry, foggy, or distorted vision
- Constant fluid buildup within the cornea
A partial-thickness corneal transplant is often done to treat corneal swelling disorders, including Fuchs' dystrophy and Bullous keratopathy. A full exam will be performed at Kirk Eye Center to determine if you are a candidate for this surgery.
Cornea Transplant Technique
Both DSAEK and DMEK are outpatient procedures performed within about 30 minutes. You will be given anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. During DSAEK surgery, a tiny incision will be made at the edge of the cornea. Next, the damaged Descemet's membrane, endothelium, and a small portion of stroma will be removed and replaced with a healthy donor graft. An air or gas bubble will be placed under the donor tissue to hold it in place, and the area will be stitched closed, or else it will heal on its own. DMEK is performed in a similar manner except is slightly less invasive in that it involves a thinner amount of tissue (Descemet's membrane and endothelium, but no stroma).
Kirk Eye Center Reviews
My opinion on lasik surgery at Dr. Kirks Office: 1. Customer service 2. pain 3. recovery & vision...1. I had lasik surgery at this office and appreciated the medical staff very much. Once you pass the customer service desk the nurse aids and all staff in back are very welcoming and sweet. Made me feel very comfortable compared to a major lasik company I visited months prior and opted out of doing service with. I will say that the front desk team could come across a bit rushed and too busy to really focus on me and truly make me feel "special".... after all I’m forking over a lot of money for lasik right? If you ask me, this is an expensive investment I’m making on my sight so I would expect nothing less then top notch service from the greeters. But they didn’t perform the surgery so let’s move on. Dr. KIRK was pleasant and well experienced. My first visit with him was short but efficient. I only wish I would have shared more about my eyes so that I could feel like he knew more about my health before surgery. I’m sure he had all he needed with his experience through the exams and all... but I guess just to make me feel more at ease with this ...maybe just a few more questions about my eye history. 2. The pain was excruciating. No one could have EVER prepared me for the pain I felt. Was it the numbing drops? Did they not wait long enough for it to take effect? Was I just not tolerant enough? Were my eyes just too sensisitive from sleeping with contacts over the years? (Something I never shared) am I not good with anesthesia? I had so many questions as to why I felt SO MUCH pain during the surgery process. On my first eye, I felt the cornea lifted up and it burned, but I didn’t on the second eye. The pressure on my eyes was unbearable. I was referred here and it was due to several great experiences so I truly don’t question the Drs ability and have no negative feedback after my recovery because my results speak for themself ...I CAN SEE!!:) but just the mere fact that I was expecting "a painless" surgery, and maybe just uncomfortable at most is why I give this a 4 star rating. I will say that most people if not all say its painless so now I just question Everyone’s honesty on this! 3. Recovery.... I could see on DAY 1 after surgery... very sensitive eyes of course. But I was pleasantly surprised that my vision was good! Normally -5/-4 ....now 20/20? I do have to say that when you wear contacts vision is so sharp its not the same with lasik. Its almost like a spark of clarity is missing. Wish I would have been prepared for that. Because you expect perfection ... but its more of natural perfection vs modern perfection if that makes sense? Its almost like you do settle for a tiny bit less .
My opinion on lasik surgery at Dr. Kirks Office: 1. Customer service 2. pain 3. recovery & vision... 1. I had lasik surgery at this office and appreciated the medical staff very much. Once you pass the customer service desk the nurse aids and all staff in back are very welcoming and sweet. Made me feel very comfortable compared to a major lasik company I visited months prior and opted out of doing service with. I will say that the front desk team could come across a bit rushed and too busy to really focus on me and truly make me feel "special".... after all I'm forking over a lot of money for lasik right? If you ask me, this is an expensive investment I'm making on my sight so I would expect nothing less then top notch service from the greeters. But they didn't perform the surgery so let's move on. Dr. KIRK was pleasant and well experienced. My first visit with him was short but efficient. I only wish I would have shared more about my eyes so that I could feel like he knew more about my health before surgery. I'm sure he had all he needed with his experience through the exams and all... but I guess just to make me feel more at ease with this ...maybe just a few more questions about my eye history. 2. The pain was excruciating. No one could have EVER prepared me for the pain I felt. Was it the numbing drops? Did they not wait long enough for it to take effect? Was I just not tolerant enough? Were my eyes just too sensisitive from sleeping with contacts over the years? (Something I never shared) am I not good with anesthesia? I had so many questions as to why I felt SO MUCH pain during the surgery process. On my first eye, I felt the cornea lifted up and it burned, but I didn't on the second eye. The pressure on my eyes was unbearable. I was referred here and it was due to several great experiences so I truly don't question the Drs ability and have no negative feedback after my recovery because my results speak for themself ...I CAN SEE!!:) but just the mere fact that I was expecting "a painless" surgery, and maybe just uncomfortable at most is why I give this a 4 star rating. I will say that most people if not all say its painless so now I just question Everyone's honesty on this! The nurses were fantastic during my breakdown..they were holding my hands and really trying to calm me down. Thank you! I truly felt like you cared and I needed it. I just wanted transparency.. I can prep for the pain... Not for uncertainty. But then again maybe I was just different! 3. Recovery.... I could see on DAY 1 after surgery... very sensitive eyes of course. But I was pleasantly surprised that my vision was great so quickly! Normally -5/-4 ....now 20/20....with a little cloud here and there as I continue to heal... I've been told weeks even months will give final results. But I couldn't be happier with my results already!!! Thank you Dr. KIRK and staff!!!
Love Kirk Eye Center! They were recommended to me by my mom and my sister in law when I had a bad cut in my cornea. Dr. Kirk took great care of me and I healed up quickly with much less pain than I would have without him. It was my first time in the office, but he made me feel like I had been a long time patient. Staff is great and I feel extremely comfortable with everyone at the office. Highly recommend!!!
My opinion on lasik surgery at Dr. Kirks Office: 1. Customer service 2. pain 3. recovery & vision... 1. I had lasik surgery at this office and appreciated the medical staff very much. Once you pass the customer service desk the nurse aids and all staff in back are very welcoming and sweet. Made me feel very comfortable compared to a major lasik company I visited months prior and opted out of doing service with. I will say that the front desk team could come across a bit rushed and too busy to really focus on me and truly make me feel "special".... after all I'm forking over a lot of money for lasik right? If you ask me, this is an expensive investment I'm making on my sight so I would expect nothing less then top notch service from the greeters. But they didn't perform the surgery so let's move on. Dr. KIRK was pleasant and well experienced. My first visit with him was short but efficient. I only wish I would have shared more about my eyes so that I could feel like he knew more about my health before surgery. I'm sure he had all he needed with his experience through the exams and all... but I guess just to make me feel more at ease with this ...maybe just a few more questions about my eye history. 2. The pain was excruciating. No one could have EVER prepared me for the pain I felt. Was it the numbing drops? Did they not wait long enough for it to take effect? Was I just not tolerant enough? Were my eyes just too sensisitive from sleeping with contacts over the years? (Something I never shared) am I not good with anesthesia? I had so many questions as to why I felt SO MUCH pain during the surgery process. On my first eye, I felt the cornea lifted up and it burned, but I didn't on the second eye. The pressure on my eyes was unbearable. I was referred here and it was due to several great experiences so I truly don't question the Drs ability and have no negative feedback after my recovery because my results speak for themself ...I CAN SEE!!:) but just the mere fact that I was expecting "a painless" surgery, and maybe just uncomfortable at most is why I give this a 4 star rating. I will say that most people if not all say its painless so now I just question Everyone's honesty on this! The nurses were fantastic during my breakdown..they were holding my hands and really trying to calm me down. Thank you! I truly felt like you cared and I needed it. I just wanted transparency.. I can prep for the pain... Not for uncertainty. But then again maybe I was just different! 3. Recovery.... I could see on DAY 1 after surgery... very sensitive eyes of course. But I was pleasantly surprised that my vision was great so quickly! Normally -5/-4 ....now 20/20....with a little cloud here and there as I continue to heal... I've been told weeks even months will give final results. But I couldn't be happier with my results already!!! Thank you Dr. KIRK and staff!!!
My opinion on lasik surgery at Dr. Kirks Office: 1. Customer service 2. pain 3. recovery & vision... 1. I had lasik surgery at this office and appreciated the medical staff very much. Once you pass the customer service desk the nurse aids and all staff in back are very welcoming and sweet. Made me feel very comfortable compared to a major lasik company I visited months prior and opted out of doing service with. I will say that the front desk team could come across a bit rushed and too busy to really focus on me and truly make me feel "special".... after all I'm forking over a lot of money for lasik right? If you ask me, this is an expensive investment I'm making on my sight so I would expect nothing less then top notch service from the greeters. But they didn't perform the surgery so let's move on. Dr. KIRK was pleasant and well experienced. My first visit with him was short but efficient. I only wish I would have shared more about my eyes so that I could feel like he knew more about my health before surgery. I'm sure he had all he needed with his experience through the exams and all... but I guess just to make me feel more at ease with this ...maybe just a few more questions about my eye history. 2. The pain was excruciating. No one could have EVER prepared me for the pain I felt. Was it the numbing drops? Did they not wait long enough for it to take effect? Was I just not tolerant enough? Were my eyes just too sensisitive from sleeping with contacts over the years? (Something I never shared) am I not good with anesthesia? I had so many questions as to why I felt SO MUCH pain during the surgery process. On my first eye, I felt the cornea lifted up and it burned, but I didn't on the second eye. The pressure on my eyes was unbearable. I was referred here and it was due to several great experiences so I truly don't question the Drs ability and have no negative feedback after my recovery because my results speak for themself ...I CAN SEE!!:) but just the mere fact that I was expecting "a painless" surgery, and maybe just uncomfortable at most is why I give this a 4 star rating. I will say that most people if not all say its painless so now I just question Everyone's honesty on this! The nurses were fantastic during my breakdown..they were holding my hands and really trying to calm me down. Thank you! I truly felt like you cared and I needed it. I just wanted transparency.. I can prep for the pain... Not for uncertainty. But then again maybe I was just different! 3. Recovery.... I could see on DAY 1 after surgery... very sensitive eyes of course. But I was pleasantly surprised that my vision was great so quickly! Normally -5/-4 ....now 20/20....with a little cloud here and there as I continue to heal... I've been told weeks even months will give final results. But I couldn't be happier with my results already!!! Thank you Dr. KIRK and staff!!!
652
Total Reviews
4.9
Average Rating
What to Expect After Cornea Transplant
After your partial-thickness corneal transplant, we will provide detailed post-operative guidelines to ensure proper healing. Following surgery, you should start to notice vision improvements within the first couple of months with full results developing after about six months. Patients who undergo DSAEK typically achieve 20/40 vision while DMEK patients usually attain vision around 20/25. You may be required to attend a series of follow-up appointments at our office to monitor your health. The full recovery phase may take several months, but the team at Kirk Eye Center is here to support you every step of the way.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Both DSAEK and DMEK are partial-thickness corneal transplants that boast high success rates, improved vision, and low rates of donor tissue rejection. Our team utilizes top-of-the-line technologies and techniques to perform both DSAEK and DMEK. We encourage you to contact our office in River Forest or Gurnee, IL to find out about how we can help you attain clearer vision.