Director Dr. David Varssano
General Description
The Cornea and External Eye Service is part of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The service performs corneal transplant surgery, pterygium surgery and the removal of tumors from the cornea and conjunctiva.
The service also treats and follows-up of patients suffering from various diseases of the cornea and external eye, including bacterial and viral infections of the cornea, keratoconus, corneal opacities and scars, dry eyes and inflammations of the eyelids - both for hospitalized patients in the department and for those treated in the outpatient services.
Doctors in the cornea and external eye service in collaboration with the cataract surgery service and the optometry service, also perform cataract surgery and follow up of post-surgery patients, and adjust the optic correction with glasses and contact lenses for patients following cornea transplant or for those suffering from keratoconus.
Doctors at the clinic perform approximately 500 surgical procedures every year, treat about 250 patients in the department of ophthalmology and 7,000 patients in the outpatient clinics.
Recently surgeons in our clinic started to perform a new procedure for corneal transplant; Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK), to replace the endothelial cells that does not require a full thickness replacement of the cornea. In the DSAEK procedure, a thin piece of donor corneal tissue containing the endothelial cells and posterior stroma is placed in the eye through a small incision on the side of the eye. This tissue adheres to the back surface of the old cornea and clears the corneal swelling.
The advantages of DSAEK are that extensive stitching of the cornea is not required and the eye heals more quickly. In addition, the surgery is safer as the new cornea is inserted through a small incision rather than a complete opening of the front part of the eye reducing the chance of a devastating hemorrhage during the surgery or infection afterwards. Since we use a small incision, the eye is left stronger so that if it is inadvertently struck there is less likelihood of a serious injury.
National Cornea Bank
The National Cornea Bank, which is part of the cornea service, deals with about 200 corneal donations a year. The bank accepts corneas and other parts of eyes from donors, most of who were treated within the hospital, and from other cornea banks in Israel and the USA.
The role of the Eye Bank is to carry out an extensive testing program on all donated corneas to assess their suitability for transplant. The corneas are tested to ensure safety and hygiene standards, and are preserved in the bank so that they will suffer no harm while waiting to be transplanted. The corneas are used for transplant surgery in our hospital and other hospitals around Israel.
Reception Hours
Sunday - Thursday: 08:00 - 14:00
Special Requirements
Patients are required to submit a financial guarantee for payment from their health fund (Form No. 17) or pay the amount of NIS 177 in cash.
Contact:
Appointments: 03-6974000
Service: 03-6973262
Location:
Sourasky Building, 1st Floor, Wing A |
