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Did you know that almost 10% of corneal blindness can treated with corneal implants? This miraculous treatment, also known as keratoplasty, replaces the damaged cornea with that of the corneal tissue of a donor. The cornea enables clear vision and the large white dome-shaped surface of the eye. Along with damaged corneal replacement, corneal transplantations relieve pain associated with corneal infections and damage. Some of the reasons to perform a cornea transplant include vision restoration and treating corneal conditions. Additionally, it is important to aware of the corneal transplant cost in India to plan the procedure accordingly.

• Corneal ulcers or Infectious keratosis
• Corneal scarring
• Hereditary conditions like Fuch’s dystrophy
• An infection, injury, or swelling of the cornea
• Thinning and breakdown of the cornea
• Previous transplant graft rejection

Corneal transplant surgeries are highly successful in restoring vision. However, like any other surgical procedure, carry a minute iota of risk or complications. Nevertheless, reinforcing an indispensable part of your eye is worth taking the risk as its success rate in prominent eye clinics stands around 95%.

With progressive technology in organ transplantation, corneal transplantation has developed over the years. And the corneal transplant cost in India has also become cost-effective with no compromise on the quality of the transplantation process.

This article explores corneal transplant costs in India while delving into the various factors affecting its pricing and more.

Corneal Transplant Cost in India

The human eye embedded with a natural lens, allowing the light to enter and help us to see. The eye lens covered by a transparent, dome-shaped, white covering called the cornea. The cornea protects the eyes from dirt, germs, and harmful radiation. The cornea also helps focus the light entering the eye, enabling clear vision.

The damage or infection of the corneal region obstructs the path of light and thus can disrupt normal vision. Cornea transplants can effectively help re-establish the focusing of light while restoring vision. During the corneal transplantation surgery, the eye specialists replace the damaged or infected cornea with donor corneal tissues.

The cost of a cornea transplant in India ranges from Rs. 50,000 to 1,50,00 per eye (sometimes inclusive of eye checkups and consultation). The corneal transplant cost depends on the city, hospital, and type of corneal transplant performed.

Types of Corneal Transplant and Their Cost

The cornea is a five-layered tissue. Sometimes, partial or the entire thick cornea replaced depending on the condition and extent of the damage. Thus, deciding the type of corneal transplants.

• Penetrating keratoplasty (PK): It is a full-thickness corneal replacement surgery where all the layers of the cornea removed and replaced with the donor corneal tissue. This conventional method requires a longer healing time while considered for significant bulging or damage of the cornea.
• Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK): In DALK or Partial Thickness Corneal Transplant, the middle and outer damaged corneal layers replaced with corneal tissues. This procedure treats corneal scarring that has not affected the inner layers.
• Endothelial keratoplasty (EK): There are two types of EK’s.

One Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK or DSAEK), where the one-third thick cornea is removed and replaced.

Second is Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), where the endothelium and Descemet’s membrane replaced with that of the donor.

DSAEK involves thicker corneal replacement than DMEK. DMEK is more complicated and needs finesse but assures quick recovery. A most preferred option for hereditary Fuch’s dystrophy and only inner corneal damage.

The overall corneal transplant cost in India starts from Rs. 50,000 averaging nearly Rs. 70,000 for each eye. And the maximum cost for cornea replacement of a single eye can go up to Rs. 1,50,000.

Factors Affecting the Corneal Transplant Cost in India

Corneal transplantation is a remunerative and effective procedure. The corneal transplant cost in India is subject to change based on some of the influencing factors such as;

1. Consultation fees of the doctor
2. Admission fees of the hospital
3. Hospitalization charges
4. Type of donor tissue replaced
5. Type of the keratoplasty performed
6. The extent of infection and damage of the cornea
7. The associated medical condition of the patient (if any)
8. Post operational complications involved
9. Lab tests or examinations- X-rays, ECG, blood tests, and others.

Take Away

The cornea is a crucial part of the eye that focuses the light enabling proper vision. The damaged or injured cornea can disrupt light and visual impairment. Owing to the advancement in technology and eye treatments, cornea transplants have come a long way from conventional methods of all-layer corneal replacement to the new cutting-edge procedures of deep lamellar transplant involving expertise and finesse.

The corneal transplant cost in India ranges anywhere between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 1,50,000 and is subject to differ due to various reasons. Dr. Deepa Gupta a highly experienced eye specialist in lamellar transplant surgeries like DSEK and DALK. Her comprehensive approach to the condition and state-of-the-art technology she endures will help you retrieve improved vision at affordable pricing.

FAQs

What is the recovery time for a cornea transplant?

Generally, corneal transplants are known to give faster results. It may take at least a year to recover completely from cornea transplantation. However, one can experience improved vision and resume their daily activities apart from heavy weight lifting or strenuous activities after one or two weeks post corneal replacement surgery.

How long does a replaced cornea last?

The cornea transplant surgery is quite effective in restoring clear vision. It is observed that a replaced cornea can last for a lifetime, provided the donor perfectly matches the recipient.

What is the success rate of a cornea transplant surgery in India?

The success rate of a cornea transplant depends on some of the factors like:

• Age of the patient
• Associated medical conditions (if any)
• Experience and expertise of the surgeon
• Type of surgery performed

However, keeping all the above factors in view, the top eye clinics in India have a success rate of nearly 95%.

Will there be any discomfort after cornea replacement surgery?

Post corneal replacement surgery, the eyes may get red, irritating, and sensitive to light for a while. The patient may have slight discharge or discomfort for a few days after surgery that is manageable with medications and pain killers.

What is the cost of a Corneal Transplant?

A healthy cornea vital for good vision, and if it is damaged, it can become swollen, scarred, and severely affected, distorting the vision and leading to vision loss. Whether the cornea damage is due to injury, infection, or disease, it can be treated effectively with a cornea transplant. For those who can’t see well because of this problem, a corneal transplant or keratoplasty is the only perfect option to restore their vision. It a corrective surgery, known as keratoplasty, that removes the existing cornea and replaces it with another. The procedure effectively brings back vision, lessens the pain, and improves the look of the damaged cornea.

The cost of corneal transplant in India varies and depends upon many factors like the severity of the condition, type of procedure, preparation of tissue grafts, surgeon’s experience, and many other additional costs associated with the surgery. The overall corneal transplant treatment cost in India ranges between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 for each eye. However, the cost can reduced depending on your health insurance coverage.

What factors determine the cost of DSAEK Surgery?

DSAEK is a type of cornea surgery that involves thicker corneal replacement. It is considered a relatively new procedure that has revolutionized the treatment of disorders in most layers of the cornea. DSAEK can performed in people with complex ocular anatomy, i.e., prior corneal transplant, history of glaucoma, or if they have prior trauma. The best part is that this type of surgery has easier post-operative recovery, and patients have a good quality of vision afterward, as many attain a vision of 20/30 or even better. However, many factors determine the overall cost of the DSAEK surgery.

The overall charges for DSAEK Surgery cost or any keratoplasty range from Rs 50,000 and above. If other procedures also required, charges may go up to Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,50,000 per eye. However, it is vital to understand the actual cost of the DSAEK, which can depend on many factors, such as the type of transplant, the specific healthcare facility chosen, and any additional medical expenses. To get the most accurate pricing information, it’s recommended that you consult with the best eye specialist, as costs may differ between providers.

What’s the recovery time for DSAEK vs. Traditional Transplant?

DSAEK eye surgery is a type of corneal transplant surgery in which most of the cornea is replaced by preserving the thin posterior membrane of the eye, i.e., The Descemet membrane and endothelium. It is the best alternative to PKP. However, DSAEK Corneal Transplant is more complex and challenging than other corneal surgeries. The recovery time post-DSAEK can vary from patient to patient and depends upon various factors; however, most patients notice an improvement in vision within several weeks to months. Generally, all types of corneal transplants known for faster results. It may take a year to recover entirely from corneal transplantation. People can resume their normal activities in one to two weeks. They just have to avoid heavy weight lifting or strenuous exercises post-surgery.

A high number of study data have significantly addressed the effect of environmental pollution on the ocular surface. Any form of impact to our eye ultimately compromises our ability to see. Though our eyes have an inbuilt ability to protect themselves, there are defects in the micro-structure of the eye, such as the complex conditions that affect the curvature of the cornea or the eyeball. They need professional treatment from experienced eye surgeons to fix the curvature and improve your vision. Procedures like LASIK and contoura vision are among the advanced treatments available to correct such issues, enhancing vision effectively.

The most common or widely performed treatment to correct vision problems the LASIK eye surgery. However, advanced forms of lasik surgery, such as the contoura lasik surgery technically optimised for a more individualised treatment.

Both LASIK and Contoura vision treatments deal with the following vision problems:

• Nearsightedness (myopia): A condition where it is difficult to see distant objects due to the sharp curvature of the cornea or a slightly longer eyeball.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia): A condition where the nearby objects are blurred as light gets focussed behind the retina owing to a shorter eyeball or flattened cornea.
• Astigmatism: This condition affects both near and distant vision as the cornea flattens or curves unevenly.

In this article, we will dwell into an advanced form of lasik surgery and contoura vision surgery that has proven beneficial to many and know the difference between them.

What is Contoura Vision Eye Surgery?

Many times the effect of uneven curvature of cornea corrected through lens and glasses. However, many opt to get rid of their glasses by undergoing laser surgery that precisely removes a tiny amount of corneal tissue to correct the refraction of light for a more focussed vision. Contoura lasik surgery a type of laser surgery where an uneven cornea is shaped to focus light precisely on the retina and improve vision. It is an advanced form of laser surgery which has many technological capabilities in mapping the cornea for better surgical outcome.

As topography and microstructure of the eye unique to a person, not all patients come with a single defect in the cornea and hence, the treatment should tailored to the needs of the patient. Contoura vision surgery does exactly this by taking into account the minute imperfections of corneal curvature mediated through the use of automated corneal topography or corneal curvature map of the eye. This is much more precise than the details obtained through prescription glasses or lenses.

Contoura vision surgery cost in India varies with the expertise and infrastructure of the hospital. The estimated contoura vision cost in Gurgaon ranges from Rs. 95,000 to Rs. 1,15,000 for its treatment. The higher contoura vision cost in India is due to the added safety and improved visual outcome involved in the treatment.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

The vision problems can corrected through eyeglasses or contact lenses that refracts light and position it correctly on the retina and turn the previously blurred image into a clear one. Lasik eye surgery, on the other hand, works by reshaping your cornea so that light focuses on the focal point of the retina for a better vision. Lasik eye surgery is a safe and pain-free simple procedure where the patient’s vision stabilised within 24 hours of surgery. Initially a cut made on the corneal flap using a mechanical surgical tool to expose the inner cornea (called stroma). This followed by reshaping the cornea by removing a microscopic amount of tissue using an excimer laser.

The corneal topographer will precisely mark the shape of your cornea and adjust the excimer laser as per your prescription. In lasik treatment, the corneal mapping takes into account 200 points. More points taken into account in the case of contoura vision surgery.

Based on the technicality and treatment plan, the lasik eye surgery cost in Gurgaon varies in the range between Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 90,000.

What is the Difference Between LASIK and Contoura Vision Surgery

Both contoura vision surgery and lasik surgery differs with the technical advancements and personalised treatment methodology. The difference in both the treatment procedures can highlighted with the following points:

• Contoura vision surgery has an advancement over lasik surgery in its ability to map 22,000 points on cornea using corneal topography and wavefront analysis, providing a customised procedure for the patients. Lasik surgery also uses corneal mapping, but it takes into account 200 points which is less compared to the contoura vision surgery.
• The standard lasik surgery is mostly based on glasses or prescription lenses which is inferior to the technological advancement of contoura vision surgery.
• Contoura is an advanced surgery and it is not limited to vision correction. Rather, the technique also used to treat abnormalities in cornea curvature.

Contoura vision surgery approved by the US FDA for vision correction. It has enhanced diagnostic capabilities capable of providing personalised treatment for vision problems.

Pros and Cons of LASIK and Contoura Vision Surgeries

Lasik Vision Surgery

Contoura Vision Surgery

How Many Types of LASIK Surgery?

LASIK surgery is the best treatment for correcting your vision problems if you suffer from nearsightedness, astigmatism, or astigmatism. There are different types of LASIK surgery, generally following the same procedure but may have different or more cutting-edge technology. LASIK eye surgery is successful with rare complications. However, the side effects of LASIK eye surgery are not permanent.

There are many advanced forms of LASIK surgeries owing to medical technological advancements. Some advanced forms of LASIK surgery are Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision. Both advanced forms of LASIK surgery that utilize laser technology to correct vision. The main points that differentiate both are the method and technology used. The choice between the two Femto LASIK Vs Contoura Vision depends upon many factors; thus, it is best to consult an experienced ophthalmologist.

What is Contoura Vision Recovery Time?

Regarding enhancing the vision with the help of Contoura Vision, only an understanding of the recovery period is useful when preparing for the use of services.

Immediate Recovery

Contoura Vision has a relatively short recovery time. The effect of the surgery is that most patients can attain marked recovery of vision within the shortest time possible, usually within the first day of surgery. Professionals assert that through operations, many patients can go back to driving and working within a day or the next couple of days as pointed out by Dr. Deepa Gupta, an ophthalmologist.

First Few Days

Occasionally, the patient may feel slight discomfort, dryness, itching, or a gritty feeling in the eyes for the first few days after the procedure. Dr. Gupta suggests that one should employ prescribed eye drops for these infections. The patient should also abstain from rubbing his or her eyes, and should not perform arduous tasks during the early stages of recovery.

Long-Term Recovery

The final adjustment appears within the first few weeks but complete healing can take some months in a few patients. Dr. Deepa Gupta stressed the need to attend all the follow-up sessions to assess the progress and implement any changes needed in the strategy for rehabilitation. Most surgeons recommend their patients refrain from contact sports and swimming for at least one month to allow for complete healing.

In summary, Contoura Vision offers a swift recovery with most patients experiencing significant visual improvements within the first few days. Adhering to Dr. Deepa Gupta’s post-operative care guidelines ensures a smooth and successful recovery, allowing patients to enjoy the benefits of enhanced vision with minimal downtime.

Femto LASIK Vs. Contoura Vision – The Difference

Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision are advanced forms of LASIK surgery, which aim to correct refractive errors like myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism. Both kinds of LASIK surgeries differ in terms of the approach used in them to reshape the cornea.

About Femto LASIK

It is an advanced form of traditional LASIK that uses a potentially safer Femtosecond laser to create a corneal flap, leading to more precision. It is an advanced blade-free process. There are many benefits and side effects of Femto LASIK eye surgery side effects:

Benefits of LASIK Surgery:

• This surgery offers fast results.
• It is very gentle on the corneal layer.

• The procedure works precisely to create a consistent corneal flap.

Side Effects of LASIK Surgery:

• Shows a temporary decrease in tear production.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Experience minor fluctuations in vision.
• Mild burning or discomfort in eyes.
• Significant visual disturbances.

About Contoura Vision

Also known as topography-guided LASIK, it takes customization to an updated level. The procedure uses detailed topographical mapping of a person’s cornea that guides the laser to reshape it. With this technique, your eyes will scanned and mapped to create a custom treatment plan for the best possible results. There are many benefits and side effects of contoura vision surgery:

Benefits of Contoura Vision:

• Reduction in your dependence on glasses.
• Improved night visions.
• Reduced dry eye symptoms.
• Reduce the risk of developing cataracts.
• Enhanced color perception.
• Treat many vision issues.

Side Effects of Contoura Vision:

• Dry eyes
• Blurry vision
• Double visions
• Galre
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye pain

Which One to Choose?

Choosing between both depends upon many factors. Eye health is the main factor, as both techniques need some eye health. Eye specialists will first determine that your cornea should have sufficient thickness and that eyes should be free of diseases like glaucoma, eye dryness, etc. There also a need for specific vision as Femto LASIK is done if your eyes are fine; if you have subtle irregularities, then Contoura Vision is preferred as it offers a better outcome by correcting issues.

If your job demands superior vision, then you should choose Contoura Vision, as it improves the quality of vision. Both have many benefits and side effects, so it is vital to discuss them with a doctor in advance. Among the two, the Contoura Vision surgery procedure is more expensive than Femto LASIK because of its advanced technology and additional testing that is included.

Takeaway

This brief discussion provides an overview of two types of vision correction surgeries – lasik surgery and contoura vision surgeries. Though both techniques have their own pros and cons, contoura has been effective for many patients where tissue damage is relatively less.

For more information, contact Dr Deepa Gupta, the best eye specialist, with over 8 years of experience in several vision correction treatment techniques. She has published research works related to cataract and refractive surgeries.

Before deciding between the two, discuss all details with your ophthalmologist; however, both types of LASIK surgeries represent an advancement in the field of laser surgery, and both have outstanding results in treating refractive errors. Femto LASIK, on the other hand, is considered best because of its precision in creating the corneal flap, enhancing safety, and reducing complications.

On the other hand, Contoura Vision takes personalization to different heights by using detailed topographical mapping of the patient‘s cornea to guide the reshaping procedure if you seek the best eye specialist, conduit Dr. Deepa Gupta, who has more than eight years of experience in correcting refractive errors.

FAQs

Is Contoura Vision better than LASIK?

Contoura vision treatment provides 22,000 mapping points of the corneal curvature compared to lasik surgery which is limited to 200. This gives an advantage over lasik in better performance and effective correction of refractive error.

Is Contoura Vision surgery safe?

Countora vision surgery has a technical advancement over lasik surgery in mapping the corneal curvature, giving it substantial leverage over other techniques in providing better results and broader scope. Moreover, contoura vision surgery is approved by US FDA for its higher safety in vision correction procedure.

Are femto LASIK and Contoura Vision the same?

However, both Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision are the types of LASIK surgery that aim to correct vision, but they are not the same. Contoura vision is a specific type of surgery that utilizes advanced mapping technology, and on the other hand, Femto LASIK uses a femtosecond laser to create the corneal flap.