WK 2A Laser Treatment and Corneal Transplants

These flashcards cover key concepts about laser treatments, corneal surgeries, and retinal therapies, emphasizing the procedures, risks, advancements, and historical developments in eye care.

What does applying a UV laser to tissue do?

It breaks the molecular bonds in the proteins of the tissue.

What is one advantage of using UV lasers for eye surgery?

They provide high precision without generating excess heat.

What is LASIK?

A common eye surgery technique that corrects vision by reshaping the cornea.

What are the requirements for a LASIK procedure?

A reasonably thick cornea and serious vision problems.

What is photoablation in the context of laser eye surgery?

The destruction of tissue bonds by the energy of the laser.

How long does a LASIK surgery typically take for both eyes?

About fifteen minutes.

What can patients expect in terms of discomfort after LASIK?

Approximately four to six hours of discomfort.

What are some risks associated with LASIK?

Potential injury to the cornea, nerve damage, and dry eyes.

What is LASEK?

A technique that removes the epithelial layer using a laser to reshape the cornea.

How long does it take for the epithelium to regenerate after LASEK?

About two to three weeks.

What is trans epithelial PRK?

A procedure that reshapes the cornea without removing the epithelium.

What is SMILE?

A newer technique that cuts a keyhole in the cornea instead of flattening it.

What are ortho-k contact lenses?

Contact lenses worn overnight that reshape the cornea temporarily.

What is a major historical achievement in corneal transplantation?

The first successful transplant from a cadaver cornea onto a human eye.

What do cornea banks do?

Store donated corneas for transplant purposes.

Why are corneal transplants performed?

To correct issues like irregularly shaped corneas or corneal infections.

What is deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)?

A procedure that replaces the central part of the cornea while keeping endothelial cells intact.

What is Hooke's dystrophy?

A condition where the cornea swells and loses its ability to focus.

What is a keratoprosthesis?

A prosthetic device that can replace a damaged cornea.

Why are prosthetic corneas not always successful?

Issues with rejection and stability.

What is currently being researched for corneal transplants?

Using bio-integrated materials that reduce rejection risk.

What is the issue with synthetic materials for corneal issues?

They need to be less likely to be rejected by the body.

What types of diseases often require retinal transplant research?

Inherited diseases like retinitis pigmentosa or choroideremia.

What is optogenetics?

Using genetics to make existing retinal cells light-sensitive.

What is the challenge with gene therapy for macular degeneration?

Ensuring long-term effectiveness and reducing rejection risk.

What do anti-VEGF injections aim to treat?

Wet macular degeneration.

What are the risks of unregulated stem cell treatments?

They can be damaging and exploit vulnerable patients.

What is the aim of retinal prosthesis research?

To deliver visual information directly to the optic nerve or retinal layer.

What is a key finding of early research on retinal prosthesis?

Some patients can recognize letters and perform daily tasks.

What issues arise in corneal injury treatments?

Infections, improper healing, and rejection can occur.

Why were corneal transplants less common in the early days?

High risks of rejection and long recovery times.

What is the role of the corneal endothelium?

It maintains corneal hydration and transparency.

What is the emergency response of the body to foreign materials in corneal treatments?

The body's immune system attempts to reject the foreign tissue.

What advancements are being made in retinal therapies?

Gene therapy and stem cell applications are under research.

How can we improve transplant success rates?

By developing less immune-reactive materials and techniques.

What is an important ethical issue in organ donation?

Preventing exploitation of vulnerable individuals for cornea trafficking.

What type of corneal transplant is currently preferred?

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is preferred for less rejection.

What complications can bacterial infections cause during recovery?

Infections can lead to transplant failure and corneal graft rejection.

How can stem cell transplantation assist with corneal healing?

Transplanting healthy stem cells can help repair and restore corneal function.

What are the potential benefits of using AI in laser eye surgeries?

AI can enhance precision in making incisions and reshaping the cornea.

Why is recovery and healing time a concern in corneal surgeries?

Complications like pain, infection, or delayed healing can affect outcomes.

What is laser accuracy important in surgeries?

It minimizes damage to surrounding tissues and enhances overall safety.

What demographic faces significant retinal issues?

Older individuals, particularly those with age-related macular degeneration.

What does applying a UV laser to tissue do?%0A%0A

It breaks the molecular bonds in the proteins of the tissue.%0A%0A

What is one advantage of using UV lasers for eye surgery?%0A%0A

They provide high precision without generating excess heat.%0A%0A

What is LASIK?%0A%0A

A common eye surgery technique that corrects vision by reshaping the cornea.%0A%0A

What are the requirements for a LASIK procedure?%0A%0A

A reasonably thick cornea and serious vision problems.%0A%0A

What is photoablation in the context of laser eye surgery?%0A%0A

The destruction of tissue bonds by the energy of the laser.%0A%0A

How long does a LASIK surgery typically take for both eyes?%0A%0A

About fifteen minutes.%0A%0A

What can patients expect in terms of discomfort after LASIK?%0A%0A

Approximately four to six hours of discomfort.%0A%0A

What are some risks associated with LASIK?%0A%0A

Potential injury to the cornea, nerve damage, and dry eyes.%0A%0A

What is LASEK?%0A%0A

A technique that removes the epithelial layer using a laser to reshape the cornea.%0A%0A

How long does it take for the epithelium to regenerate after LASEK?%0A%0A

About two to three weeks.%0A%0A

What is trans epithelial PRK?%0A%0A

A procedure that reshapes the cornea without removing the epithelium.%0A%0A

What is SMILE?%0A%0A

A newer technique that cuts a keyhole in the cornea instead of flattening it.%0A%0A

What are ortho-k contact lenses?%0A%0A

Contact lenses worn overnight that reshape the cornea temporarily.%0A%0A

What is a major historical achievement in corneal transplantation?%0A%0A

The first successful transplant from a cadaver cornea onto a human eye.%0A%0A

What do cornea banks do?%0A%0A

Store donated corneas for transplant purposes.%0A%0A

Why are corneal transplants performed?%0A%0A

To correct issues like irregularly shaped corneas or corneal infections.%0A%0A

What is deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)?%0A%0A

A procedure that replaces the central part of the cornea while keeping endothelial cells intact.%0A%0A

What is Hooke's dystrophy?%0A%0A

A condition where the cornea swells and loses its ability to focus.%0A%0A

What is a keratoprosthesis?%0A%0A

A prosthetic device that can replace a damaged cornea.%0A%0A

Why are prosthetic corneas not always successful?%0A%0A

Issues with rejection and stability.%0A%0A

What is currently being researched for corneal transplants?%0A%0A

Using bio-integrated materials that reduce rejection risk.%0A%0A

What is the issue with synthetic materials for corneal issues?%0A%0A

They need to be less likely to be rejected by the body.%0A%0A

What types of diseases often require retinal transplant research?%0A%0A

Inherited diseases like retinitis pigmentosa or choroideremia.%0A%0A

What is optogenetics?%0A%0A

Using genetics to make existing retinal cells light-sensitive.%0A%0A

What is the challenge with gene therapy for macular degeneration?%0A%0A

Ensuring long-term effectiveness and reducing rejection risk.%0A%0A

What do anti-VEGF injections aim to treat?%0A%0A

Wet macular degeneration.%0A%0A

What are the risks of unregulated stem cell treatments?%0A%0A

They can be damaging and exploit vulnerable patients.%0A%0A

What is the aim of retinal prosthesis research?%0A%0A

To deliver visual information directly to the optic nerve or retinal layer.%0A%0A

What is a key finding of early research on retinal prosthesis?%0A%0A

Some patients can recognize letters and perform daily tasks.%0A%0A

What issues arise in corneal injury treatments?%0A%0A

Infections, improper healing, and rejection can occur.%0A%0A

Why were corneal transplants less common in the early days?%0A%0A

High risks of rejection and long recovery times.%0A%0A

What is the role of the corneal endothelium?%0A%0A

It maintains corneal hydration and transparency.%0A%0A

What is the emergency response of the body to foreign materials in corneal treatments?%0A%0A

The body's immune system attempts to reject the foreign tissue.%0A%0A

What advancements are being made in retinal therapies?%0A%0A

Gene therapy and stem cell applications are under research.%0A%0A

How can we improve transplant success rates?%0A%0A

By developing less immune-reactive materials and techniques.%0A%0A

What is an important ethical issue in organ donation?%0A%0A

Preventing exploitation of vulnerable individuals for cornea trafficking.%0A%0A

What type of corneal transplant is currently preferred?%0A%0A

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is preferred for less rejection.%0A%0A

What complications can bacterial infections cause during recovery?%0A%0A

Infections can lead to transplant failure and corneal graft rejection.%0A%0A

How can stem cell transplantation assist with corneal healing?%0A%0A

Transplanting healthy stem cells can help repair and restore corneal function.%0A%0A

What are the potential benefits of using AI in laser eye surgeries?%0A%0A

AI can enhance precision in making incisions and reshaping the cornea.%0A%0A

Why is recovery and healing time a concern in corneal surgeries?%0A%0A

Complications like pain, infection, or delayed healing can affect outcomes.%0A%0A

What is laser accuracy important in surgeries?%0A%0A

It minimizes damage to surrounding tissues and enhances overall safety.%0A%0A

What demographic faces significant retinal issues?%0A%0A

Older individuals, particularly those with age-related macular degeneration.%0A%0A

How do corrective lenses improve vision?%0A%0A

They alter the focal point of light entering the eye, allowing it to focus correctly on the retina.%0A%0A

What is the primary difference between spectacles (glasses) and contact lenses?%0A%0A

Spectacles sit on the face in front of the eyes, while contact lenses sit directly on the surface of the eye.%0A%0A

What are the common types of vision problems corrected by lenses?%0A%0A

Astigmatism, myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and presbyopia.%0A%0A

What are toric lenses used to correct?%0A%0A

Astigmatism, by having different corrective powers in different meridians of the lens.%0A%0A

What are multifocal contact lenses?%0A%0A

Lenses designed to correct vision at multiple distances, often used for presbyopia.%0A%0A