October 21, 2011
CALGARY – Southern Albertans receiving a corneal transplant can now recover their vision sooner, thanks to an innovative procedure now available in Calgary.
Roughly one in three corneal transplant patients only need the damaged outer layers of the cornea replaced rather than the entire cornea. Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) replaces those outermost layers, and preserves the healthy inner layers, allowing patients to recover in three weeks – half the time of conventional transplant surgery.
“With DALK, a patient’s vision recovers much faster, which means they can get back to work or school sooner than ever before,” says Dr. Thaddeus Demong, ophthalmologist at Demong Associate Eyecentre, which is contracted by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to perform corneal transplants. “It also reduces the rejection rate to almost zero, which ultimately reduces the need for more surgical time and donor corneas to perform follow-up procedures.”
Dr. Demong is one of three surgeons in the province specially trained to perform this procedure, as well as a similar procedure, known as Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK), which replaces only the damaged inner layers of the cornea. Both procedures are also performed in Edmonton at University of Alberta Hospital. These procedures are transforming the lives of Albertans such as Brett Williamson, who underwent DALK on his right eye this past July. He was able to return to his job as a produce manager within a month.
“Before the surgery, vision in my right eye was so blurry, even glasses couldn’t correct it,” the 40-year-old says. “The day after the surgery, I was able to make out that first letter on the vision chart. It was amazing – I couldn’t do that before.”
In Calgary, donor corneas are prepared and stored by AHS staff at Rockyview General Hospital’s Lions Eye Bank, and are then used in transplant surgery at non-hospital surgical facilities around the city. “Generous end-of-life donations make corneal transplant possible,” says Mijana Ridic, Manager of Lions Eye Bank. “It’s critical for people to speak with their family about their wishes regarding organ and tissue donation.”
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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