Posterior lamellar keratoplasty (PLK) is a new technique in cornea transplantation. PLK is a less-invasive alternative to penetrating keratoplasty (PK), the current gold standard in cornea transplants, and recovery time with the new procedure is greatly reduced. It is appropriate for patients who have had problems with the inner layer of their cornea, the endothelial cell layer, such as patients with a condition known as Fuchs’ dystrophy. Endothelial layer failure is a common cause leading to the need for a cornea transplant.

John Parker, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham), is the first eye surgeon in Alabama to have performed PLK surgery. Less than 50 surgeons in the United States have been trained in this new procedure.

PLK surgery, developed over the past 5 years by a Dutch eye surgeon, involves surgically removing the endothelial layer, or innermost layer, of the cornea while leaving the outer two layers of the cornea intact. An endothelial layer from a donor cornea is then carefully slid under these outer layers. Unlike PK surgery, no sutures are needed as the two outer layers hold the new endothelial layer in place. Recovery time is reduced from around 18 months with PK to around two months with PLK. The eye is more structurally stable and the risk of eye trauma is reduced. Dr. Parker believes PLK will replace PK as the surgery of choice in the many cases where the cornea damage is located in the endothelial layer. PK will still be needed when cornea damage extends throughout the entire cornea.

Bob Shepard, Media Relations