Corneal Transplants

The Doctors at Pepose Vision Institute have the best track record of protecting and restoring our patients' functional vision of any cornea specialist in the St. Louis area. This translates into:

  • Faster visual recovery: little to no discomfort
  • Less need for repeat surgery to achieve best vision result possible
  • Minimized risk of complications and transplant rejection that can compromise your sight
  • Patients who are relieved that they have been given back the greatest amount of functional vision possible in their treated eye

Corneal Transplant Case Study

Corneal St. Louis Case Study

Little Caitlin Kuehling was born with a condition called Peter's Anomaly - in which the corneas are cloudy and the iris is misshapen. Essentially, she was functionally blind. Dr. Pepose knew that of the 40,000 cornea transplant operations in the country at the time, only 300 had been performed on babies. It was a risky procedure for an eye so small. But Caitlin's mother Monica just wanted for her baby what other children had: To see the moon and the stars and more. It's been more than 16 years since her operation, and that's just what "Baby" Caitlin can now see. The moon. The stars. And all the beauty the world has to offer.

Why choose PVI?

Experience

Cornea surgery outcomes improve dramatically if the surgeon is cornea subspecialty trained, it's important to know that only cornea subspecialists at Pepose Vision Institute will perform your cornea procedure. Dr. Jay Pepose was recruited to Washington University/Barnes Hospital almost two decades ago because of his skill, training and experience in treating cornea-related injuries and disease.

Testing

Each cornea patient undergoes an intensive state-of-the-art testing process, directly supervised by our cornea subspecialty trained surgeons who then create a precise, personalized treatment plan.

Technology

Dr. Jay Pepose is a leader, both locally and nationally, in corneal tissue procurement and evaluation, relying on state-of-the-art technologies to make sure that the donor tissue he uses is safe and reduces risk of rejection.

Lifetime Commitment

Our surgeons vigilantly monitor the status of your eyes for the rest of your life to ensure that your vision continues to be its best, years AFTER your cornea surgery.

The Corneal Transplant Process

Schedule Your Cornea Examination with PVI

Call us TODAY at 636-728-0111 or toll-free, 1-877-262-2020 to schedule your cornea examination. During this exam, we will evaluate your eyes using the most precise diagnostic instruments available. We will test and then retest, to assure the most accurate results possible. If our findings indicate that you could benefit from surgery, our doctors will discuss your options, including the possibility of a corneal transplant. Your eye exam will be so thorough that you will feel both confident and hopeful that we can help you achieve the best vision outcome possible. Please bring a driver since your eyes will likely be dilated during this visit.

Come in for Your Procedure

The exact procedure will be customized to your unique eye condition. It should take no more than 1-2 hours, depending on whether other vision problems for example, a cataract are treated at the same time. Your procedure will be painless and comfortable, thanks to local or general anesthesia. You should be able to go home within a couple of hours of entering the recovery room. Please bring a driver on the day of your surgery. Then go home and treat yourself to a nap doctor's orders!

Follow Your Surgeon's Post-operative Instructions

We'll give you clear directions about allowable activity levels, use of eye drops, ointments and oral medications, and your eye shield. Take extra care to protect your eye from everyday threats, including pet paws, children's fingers, falls and thrown objects. And be sure to attend each and every office appointment that has been scheduled for you. Our cornea subspecialty-trained surgeons are on call for our patients 24/7, 365 days a year to answer any post-operative questions or concerns you might have.

PVI Promise

While no one can promise perfect vision, the Pepose Vision Institute is dedicated to doing everything it can to assure patients' lifelong quality vision.