Deep Lamellar Endothelial Keratoplasty
(the earliest form of layer transplant
dating back to about 2001)

DMEK
Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty
The very newest form of layer transplant
first done only in 2008. The only U.S. dr
experienced in doing these as of 2010 is
Dr Price.  Most drs are staying away 
from this yet until the problems in the
super-thin tissue is resolved. 


DSAEK

same as DSEK but with the word
"automated" (the "A") in it.
The third kind of layer transplant created
These date back only to about 2006

DSEK
Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty
The 2nd kind of layer transplant created 
in about late 2004 or early 2005

EK
Endothelial Keratoplasty.  This is a general
term for all kinds of partial (layer)
cornea transplants (such as DLEK, DSEK,
DSAEK, or DMEK).  

GUTTATA

What happens when you have Fuchs' Corneal 
Dystrophy is that the cells in the inner 
layer of the cornea (called the Endothelium) die.  
That means they can no longer pump water out of 
the eye like they're supposed to be doing. The cells 
swell with the water and bulge out, creating "bumps" 
on the cornea called "guttata" (see links section 
for photos of guttata). 
 
 
LOL
 
LOL usually means "laughing out loud" although it MAY 
sometimes mean "lots of love".
 
 
MURO DROPS
Muro is a special salt-water solution that is 
sometimes used by cornea specialists to try to 
get excess water out of the cornea of someone 
who has Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy.  Usually 
the worse the fuchs' is, the more the Muro 
drops burn and sting in the eye.  In this 
group we tend to nickname Muro drops "battery acid" 
because of the pain it can often cause when used.  
Muro also comes in an ointment, which doesn't burn 
as badly.  Not everyone with Fuchs' gets improved 
vision with Muro drops, although people with Fuchs' 
blisters often speak well of the relief they get 
using Muro ointment.  

DO NOT USE EITHER MURO DROPS OR OINTMENT IN YOUR 
EYES WITHOUT YOUR TRAINED EYE PROFESSIONAL'S 
APPROVAL AND SUPERVISION.

Muro is the brand-name in the U.S.  
It may have a different name in other countries.
 
 
OTC
OTC means "over the counter" and is referring to 
medicenes, such as some eyedrops, that can be 
purchased over the counter without having a 
prescription for them.
 
 
PK
 
PK stands for "penetrating keratoplasty"
and is just a fancy way of saying
"traditional full corneal transplant". 

PT
What some in FuchsSupport Group call a
partial (layer) transplant such as
DLEK, DSEK, DSAEK or DMEK
 
 
RGP LENS
 
A RGP lens is a Rigid Gas Permeable contact lens.  
This is unlike the most common form of contact 
lenses in that it's hard rather than soft.  
If someone who had a cornea transplant later 
has a contact lens to improve vision, they 
cannot use a soft contact because the soft 
contacts not only do not allow oxygen to reach 
the cornea in that spot, but also because the 
soft contacts will not allow eyedrops put in 
to reach the cornea.  The RGP lens not only "breathes" 
to allow oxygen to the delicate new cornea, but also 
allows the wearer to put in eyedrops and have the 
drops get to the new cornea.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS REFERERING ONLY TO EYES
ARE POST-T!!!!  ALMOST ALL FUCHS-EXPERIENCED
CORNEA SPECIALISTS ARE AGAINST HAVING ANYONE
WITH FUCHS' WEAR CONTACT LENSES OF ANY KIND,
SINCE IT CAN DISRUPT THEIR ALREADY FRAGILE
AND UNBALANCED CORNEA!
 
 
 
ROFLOL

ROFLOL means "rolling 
on the floor, laughing out loud!"

T
What we call a "T" here in this site is a 
traditional corneal transplant (as versus
DLEK).  That is where the cornea is cut 
out of the eye with a device something 
like a cookie cutter and donor cornea 
(from a deceased donor) is sewn in it's place.  
The stitching is done with thread finer than a 
human hair and is so tiny and fine that it's 
done under a microscope.  The outside edge 
of the old cornea is left in so the new 
cornea can be sewn onto it.
 
 
TRIPLE
A triple procedure is when someone has a
cornea transplant, and cataract surgery
done at the same time. It's called a
"triple" because it's a transplant,
plus they remove the cataract, plus
they implant a lens.

VBG
"VBG" stands for "Very Big Grin"!
 
 
YAG
Frequently after cataract lens implantation, 
the body will form "scar tissue" (that's the way 
my doctor described it) over the lens.  It is the 
body's healing response to the "foreign" object, the lens.  
The YAG procedure is commonly done.  It is a laser that the 
doctor uses to zap holes in the scar tissue.  The scar 
tissue then peals back, (kinda like zapping holes in 
saran wrap) and voila' vision is good once again.  My doctor 
claims that it is never "if" a person developes the scar 
tissue, but "when".  My dr. routinely does the YAG, 
but usually no sooner than 90 days post surgery.
(Provided by Marla)
 
 
(((((((name)))))))
When you see ((((((((((NAME))))))))))))) that's
HUG sent over the computer for that person!!!!!!!!!!!!!