Jay Savla Eye Clinic

Advanced Corneal Care & Treatment

Specialized diagnosis and treatment for all conditions using the latest technology and surgical techniques.

Our corneal specialists provide comprehensive care for conditions ranging from common infections to complex corneal transplant and refrative surgery.

Our Comprehensive Corneal Services

We offer a complete spectrum of advanced diagnostic and treatment options for all corneal conditions, from common infections to complex transplantation procedures.

Corneal Transplantation

Advanced surgical procedures to replace damaged corneal tissue with healthy donor tissue.

  • Full-thickness (PK) transplants
  • Partial-thickness (DSEK, DMEK, DALK)
  • Limbal stem cell transplantation
  • Keratoprosthesis (artificial cornea)

Advanced Corneal Treatments

Innovative procedures to treat corneal diseases and improve vision without full transplantation.

  • Corneal Collagen Crosslinking (C3R)
  • Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (Intacs)
  • Amniotic Membrane Grafting
  • Pterygium Surgery with Autografts

Medical & Emergency Care

Comprehensive treatment for corneal infections, injuries, and inflammatory conditions.

  • Corneal Ulcer Treatment
  • Corneal Tear Repair
  • Peripheral Ulcer Management
  • Autoimmune Disease Treatment

Corneal Transplantation

Our specialists perform the full spectrum of corneal transplant procedures, from traditional full-thickness transplants to the latest minimally invasive techniques.

DMEK (Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty)

The most advanced form of partial-thickness corneal transplantation that replaces only the innermost layers of the cornea.

How It Works:

DMEK replaces only the damaged endothelium and Descemet's membrane (10-15 microns thick) through a small incision. The ultra-thin donor tissue is positioned using an air bubble, providing the most anatomically precise replacement possible.

Ideal For:

  • • Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy
  • • Bullous keratopathy
  • • Failed previous transplants
  • • Endothelial dysfunction

Benefits:

  • • Fastest visual recovery of all transplant techniques
  • • Minimal induced astigmatism
  • • Lowest rejection rate (less than 1%)
  • • Small incision with minimal sutures
  • • Maintains corneal structural integrity

DSEK/DSAEK (Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty)

A partial-thickness corneal transplant procedure that replaces the damaged endothelium with a thin layer of donor tissue.

How It Works:

DSEK/DSAEK involves removing the diseased endothelium and replacing it with a thin donor disc of posterior stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. The graft is typically 100-150 microns thick and is inserted through a small incision.

Ideal For:

  • • Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy
  • • Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy
  • • Failed previous grafts
  • • Cases where DMEK may be technically challenging

Benefits:

  • • Faster recovery than full-thickness transplants
  • • Stronger wound healing than DMEK
  • • Lower rejection rate than PK
  • • Minimal sutures required
  • • Maintains much of the cornea's structural integrity

DALK (Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty)

A specialized transplant procedure that replaces the front layers of the cornea while preserving the patient's own endothelium.

How It Works:

DALK removes the corneal epithelium and stroma down to Descemet's membrane, preserving the patient's healthy endothelium. Donor tissue consisting of epithelium and stroma is then sutured in place. The "big bubble" technique allows for precise separation of corneal layers.

Ideal For:

  • • Keratoconus
  • • Corneal scarring that doesn't affect the endothelium
  • • Stromal dystrophies
  • • Post-infectious scarring

Benefits:

  • • Eliminates endothelial rejection risk
  • • Longer graft survival compared to PK
  • • Maintains eye structural integrity better than PK
  • • Reduced need for long-term steroid use

PK (Penetrating Keratoplasty)

Traditional full-thickness corneal transplant procedure for cases requiring complete replacement of all corneal layers.

How It Works:

PK involves removing a full-thickness button of the patient's cornea and replacing it with donor tissue that is sutured into place. While newer partialthickness techniques are preferred when possible, PK remains essential for certain conditions.

When It's Necessary:

  • • Full-thickness corneal scars
  • • Advanced keratoconus with hydrops
  • • Perforations and severe thinning
  • • Failed previous transplants
  • • Infections involving multiple corneal layers

Our Approach:

We utilize femtosecond laser-assisted PK when appropriate, which creates precise, customized incisions that promote better wound healing and potentially reduce astigmatism compared to traditional techniques.

Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation

Specialized procedure to restore the corneal surface in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency.

How It Works:

This procedure transplants healthy limbal stem cells to regenerate the corneal epithelium. Stem cells may be harvested from the patient's healthy eye (CLAU), from a living relative (lr-CLAL), or from cadaveric tissue (KLAL), depending on the extent and cause of deficiency.

Conditions Treated:

  • • Chemical and thermal burns
  • • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • • Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
  • • Aniridia
  • • Multiple surgeries or chronic inflammation

Benefits:

  • • Restores corneal surface integrity
  • • Improves vision in previously untreatable conditions
  • • Reduces pain and inflammation
  • • Can be combined with other corneal procedures

Keratoprosthesis (Artificial Cornea)

Advanced surgical option for patients with severe corneal disease who are not candidates for traditional corneal transplantation.

How It Works:

A keratoprosthesis is an artificial cornea made of clear plastic with excellent tissue tolerance and optical properties. It is implanted to replace the central cornea when traditional transplants have failed or are likely to fail.

Types Available:

  • Boston KPro Type I - For eyes with adequate tear film and eyelid function
  • Boston KPro Type II - For severe dry eye and cicatricial conditions
  • MOOKP (Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis) - Uses the patient's tooth root and alveolar bone

Ideal For:

  • • Multiple failed corneal transplants
  • • Severe chemical/thermal injuries
  • • Autoimmune diseases (Stevens-Johnson, pemphigoid)
  • • Severe dry eye with corneal scarring

Our Transplantation Approach

Tissue-Specific Approach

We replace only the diseased layers of the cornea whenever possible, preserving healthy tissue for better outcomes and faster recovery.

Advanced Surgical Techniques

We utilize femtosecond laser technology, specialized instrumentation, and refined surgical techniques to optimize outcomes and minimize complications.

Comprehensive Care

Our transplant program includes meticulous preoperative planning, expert surgical execution, and long-term post-operative care to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Transplant Success Rates

Our clinic maintains success rates that exceed national averages across all transplant types. Our DMEK procedures have a 98% success rate with clear corneas at one year, and our overall graft rejection rate is less than 5% across all procedures.

Advanced Corneal Treatments

We offer innovative procedures to treat corneal diseases and improve vision, often avoiding or delaying the need for full transplantation.

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking (C3R)

FDA-approved procedure to strengthen the cornea and halt keratoconus progression by creating new bonds between collagen fibers.

How It Works:

The procedure combines riboflavin (vitamin B2) eye drops with controlled UV light exposure to create new crosslinks between collagen fibers, strengthening the cornea and preventing further bulging.

Types Available:

  • Epithelium-off (standard) - Highest efficacy with temporary discomfort
  • Epithelium-on (transepithelial) - Faster recovery with modified protocol
  • Accelerated crosslinking - Shorter treatment time with higher UV intensity
  • Combined with topography-guided PRK - For vision improvement

Benefits:

  • • Stops keratoconus progression in over 95% of cases
  • • May improve vision in some patients
  • • Reduces need for corneal transplantation
  • • Outpatient procedure with quick recovery

Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (Intacs)

Micro-thin implants placed within the cornea to reshape its curvature and improve vision in keratoconus and other corneal irregularities.

How It Works:

Tiny, clear crescent-shaped segments are inserted into the corneal stroma through a small incision. These segments flatten the cone-shaped bulge, reducing irregular astigmatism and improving vision.

Available Options:

  • Intacs® - FDA-approved segments for keratoconus
  • Keraring® - Specialized for advanced keratoconus
  • Femtosecond laser-assisted - Precise, bladeless insertion
  • Combined with crosslinking - For stabilization and reshaping

Benefits:

  • • Improves vision and contact lens tolerance
  • • Minimally invasive alternative to transplantation
  • • Reversible procedure if needed
  • • Can be combined with crosslinking for optimal results

Amniotic Membrane Grafting

Therapeutic application of processed amniotic membrane to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and treat various corneal conditions.

How It Works:

Amniotic membrane contains natural growth factors, anti-inflammatory proteins, and structural components that promote healing without scarring. The membrane can be applied as a temporary biological bandage or permanent graft.

Application Methods:

  • Suture technique - Secured with fine sutures for longer-term treatment
  • ProKera® ring - Self-retaining system for office-based application
  • Cryopreserved membrane - Maximum biological activity
  • Dehydrated membrane - Extended shelf life and ease of use

Conditions Treated:

  • • Persistent epithelial defects
  • • Corneal ulcers and melts
  • • Chemical and thermal burns
  • • Recurrent corneal erosions
  • • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • • After pterygium removal

Pterygium Surgery with Autografting

Advanced surgical removal of pterygia (abnormal tissue growth) with techniques to minimize recurrence and optimize cosmetic results.

Our Approach:

We utilize advanced techniques including conjunctival autografting and amniotic membrane transplantation to achieve superior outcomes with minimal recurrence rates compared to traditional approaches.

Surgical Techniques:

  • Conjunctival autograft - Using your own tissue for natural healing
  • Limbal-conjunctival autograft - Including stem cells for better healing
  • Amniotic membrane graft - Promoting healing and reducing inflammation
  • Fibrin glue technique - Sutureless approach for faster recovery
  • Adjunctive anti-metabolites - For high-risk recurrent cases

Benefits:

  • • Low recurrence rate (less than 5% with autografting)
  • • Excellent cosmetic results
  • • Reduction in astigmatism
  • • Improved comfort and vision

Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK)

Laser procedure that removes corneal opacities, smooths irregularities, and treats various corneal pathologies to improve vision and comfort.

How It Works:

PTK uses an excimer laser to precisely remove superficial corneal opacities and irregularities at the microscopic level. The procedure can be performed with or without masking agents to optimize smoothing of the corneal surface.

Conditions Treated:

  • • Anterior corneal dystrophies (Reis-Bücklers, Cogan's)
  • • Recurrent corneal erosions
  • • Salzmann's nodular degeneration
  • • Band keratopathy
  • • Superficial corneal scars

Benefits:

  • • Less invasive than corneal transplantation
  • • Precise removal of opacities
  • • Improved corneal smoothness
  • • Can be combined with refractive correction

Topography-Guided PRK

Advanced surface ablation procedure that uses detailed corneal mapping to treat irregular astigmatism and improve vision in patients with corneal irregularities.

How It Works:

Topography-guided PRK combines detailed corneal topography measurements with excimer laser technology to create a customized treatment plan that addresses both refractive errors and corneal irregularities. The epithelium is removed, and the laser reshapes the cornea according to the personalized map.

Ideal For:

  • • Mild to moderate keratoconus
  • • Irregular astigmatism
  • • Corneal scars
  • • Post-LASIK complications
  • • Patients with thin corneas not suitable for LASIK

Benefits:

  • • Improves both vision and corneal regularity
  • • No flap-related complications
  • • Can be combined with corneal crosslinking
  • • Suitable for thinner corneas

Medical & Emergency Corneal Care

We provide comprehensive treatment for corneal infections, injuries, and inflammatory conditions with 24/7 emergency services for urgent cases.

Corneal Ulcer Treatment

Comprehensive management of infectious and noninfectious corneal ulcers to prevent vision loss and preserve corneal integrity.

Our Approach:

We utilize advanced diagnostic techniques including corneal cultures, confocal microscopy, and PCR testing to identify the specific pathogen causing the ulcer, allowing for targeted treatment rather than broad-spectrum therapy.

Treatment Options:

  • Fortified antibiotics - Custom-compounded for severe bacterial infections
  • Antifungal therapy - For fungal keratitis
  • Antiviral medications - For herpes and other viral ulcers
  • Anti-amoebic treatment - For Acanthamoeba infections
  • Amniotic membrane grafting - To promote healing
  • Corneal crosslinking - For treatmentresistant infections

Emergency Care:

Corneal ulcers are ocular emergencies that require immediate attention. Our clinic provides 24/7 emergency services for urgent cases, with specialists available for consultation and treatment.

Corneal Tear Repair

Emergency surgical repair of corneal lacerations and perforations to restore corneal integrity and prevent complications.

Surgical Techniques:

  • Direct suturing - Using ultra-fine sutures for clean lacerations
  • Tissue adhesives - Cyanoacrylate glue for small perforations
  • Amniotic membrane patching - For tissue loss and complex tears
  • Corneal patch grafts - For larger defects requiring tissue replacement
  • Tectonic keratoplasty - For severe injuries with extensive tissue loss

Our Approach:

We provide immediate evaluation and surgical intervention for corneal injuries, with the goal of preserving corneal integrity, preventing infection, and maintaining the best possible visual outcome. Our surgeons are available 24/7 for emergency repairs.

Post-Repair Care:

  • • Intensive antibiotic therapy to prevent infection
  • • Anti-inflammatory treatment to control scarring
  • • Regular monitoring of wound healing
  • • Secondary procedures as needed for optimal visual results

Peripheral Corneal Ulcer Management

Specialized treatment for peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) and other inflammatory conditions affecting the corneal periphery.

Comprehensive Approach:

We take a multidisciplinary approach to peripheral corneal ulcers, working closely with rheumatologists and immunologists to identify and treat underlying systemic conditions while providing specialized corneal care.

Treatment Options:

  • Systemic immunosuppression - For autoimmune-related PUK
  • Topical anti-inflammatory therapy - To control local inflammation
  • Amniotic membrane grafting - To promote healing
  • Conjunctival resection - For Mooren's ulcer
  • Tectonic grafting - For impending perforation
  • Biological agents - TNF inhibitors and other targeted therapies

Associated Conditions:

  • • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • • Wegener's granulomatosis
  • • Polyarteritis nodosa
  • • Relapsing polychondritis
  • • Mooren's ulcer

Autoimmune Corneal Disease Treatment

Specialized care for corneal manifestations of autoimmune and inflammatory systemic diseases.

Conditions Treated:

  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/TEN - Acute and chronic phases
  • Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid - Progressive conjunctival scarring
  • Rheumatoid arthritis - Associated dry eye and peripheral ulceration
  • Sjögren's syndrome - Severe dry eye with corneal complications
  • Graft-versus-host disease - Post-transplant ocular surface disease

Treatment Approach:

We utilize a multidisciplinary approach, combining systemic immunomodulatory therapy with specialized ocular surface treatments to control inflammation, prevent progression, and restore corneal health.

Treatment Options:

  • Systemic immunosuppression - Tailored to the specific condition
  • Biological agents - Targeted therapy for specific immune pathways
  • Autologous serum tears - For severe dry eye and epithelial healing
  • Scleral contact lenses - For ocular surface protection
  • Amniotic membrane therapy - For acute and chronic inflammation
  • Surgical interventions - For complications and advanced disease

Corneal Infection Management

Comprehensive treatment of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic corneal infections using targeted antimicrobial therapies.

Our Approach:

We utilize advanced diagnostic techniques to identify the specific pathogen causing your infection, allowing for targeted treatment rather than broad-spectrum therapy. This approach leads to faster resolution and reduced risk of antibiotic resistance.

Treatment Options:

  • Bacterial keratitis - Fortified antibiotics and fluoroquinolones
  • Herpes simplex/zoster - Oral and topical antivirals
  • Fungal keratitis - Natamycin, voriconazole, and other antifungals
  • Acanthamoeba - Combination therapy with biguanides and diamidines
  • Adjunctive PACK-CXL - Photoactivated chromophore for infectious keratitis

Advanced Diagnostics:

  • • In-vivo confocal microscopy for real-time pathogen visualization
  • • PCR testing for rapid pathogen identification
  • • Corneal cultures with antibiotic sensitivity testing
  • • Anterior segment OCT to assess infection depth and response

Dry Eye & Ocular Surface Disease

Comprehensive management of dry eye syndrome and related ocular surface disorders that affect corneal health.

Our Approach:

We utilize advanced diagnostic testing to identify the specific type and cause of your dry eye, allowing for targeted treatment of the underlying condition rather than just symptom management.

Treatment Options:

  • Prescription anti-inflammatory medications - Restasis, Xiidra, Cequa
  • Advanced lubricating formulations - Customized to tear deficiency type
  • Punctal occlusion - Temporary and permanent options
  • Meibomian gland treatments - LipiFlow, IPL, meibomian gland probing
  • Autologous serum tears - Made from your own blood components
  • Amniotic membrane therapy - For severe surface disease
  • Scleral contact lenses - For severe cases and irregular corneas

Related Conditions:

We also treat related conditions including exposure keratopathy, neurotrophic keratitis, and limbal stem cell deficiency that can affect the corneal surface.

Advanced Corneal Diagnostics

Our clinic utilizes state-of-the-art technology to accurately diagnose corneal conditions and develop precise treatment plans.

Corneal Topography

Creates detailed 3D maps of the cornea's surface to detect irregularities, measure curvature, and evaluate thickness.

  • Essential for keratoconus diagnosis
  • Precise planning for refractive surgery
  • Contact lens fitting for irregular corneas

Anterior Segment OCT

High-resolution cross-sectional imaging of the cornea and anterior segment to visualize all corneal layers with microscopic detail.

  • Precise corneal thickness measurement
  • Evaluation of corneal dystrophies
  • Monitoring post-surgical healing
  • Detailed view of corneal scars and opacities

In-Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Provides cellular-level imaging of the living cornea, allowing visualization of corneal nerves, cells, and microorganisms.

  • Diagnosis of corneal infections
  • Evaluation of corneal nerve damage
  • Detection of Acanthamoeba and fungal infections
  • Assessment of contact lens complications

Experience Expert Corneal Care

Our specialists provide comprehensive care for all corneal conditions using the latest technology and surgical techniques. Schedule a consultation today to learn how we can help preserve and improve your vision.