St John of God Bunbury Hospital is the only private hospital outside of the metropolitan area that offers corneal transplants, and DMEK (Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty) surgery, which is also available at many St John of God Health Care hospitals in both Perth and Victoria.
This is an advanced type of corneal transplant surgery that involves replacing only the innermost single cell layer of the cornea, called the Descemet membrane and endothelium, with healthy tissue from a donor.
The procedure is performed to treat swelling and cloudiness of the cornea.
Jill Upfold was one of the first patients in regional Western Australia to have the procedure and is already experiencing better vision.
Jill said she was happy to have the option to access this surgery close to home so that she didn’t need to worry about travelling to Perth and could benefit from recovering in the comfort of her own home.
“I can already clearly see the outline of things that I couldn’t see before,” she said.
“I can’t wait to get back to what I was doing and enjoying reading and travel again.”
St John of God Bunbury Hospital Ophthalmologist Dr Lasitha Jayasinghe from Southwest Eye Surgeons performed the surgery at the hospital’s Day Procedure Unit.
Dr Jayasinghe said he was pleased to be able to offer the surgery locally so patients don’t have to travel to Perth for the surgery or post-operative care.
“This is done as a day surgery and is really quick, so not only does that mean patients have a short hospital stay, they also benefit from returning home the same day of the surgery without the need to travel long distances, which is really important for patients living in regional areas,” he said.
The procedure is possible thanks to WA’s Lions Eye Bank, based in Perth, now providing the required donated tissue, which is processed and ready for the transplant. Eye tissue donation can restore sight, prevent blindness, and improve quality of life.
A patient’s surgeon will determine whether DMEK surgery is appropriate for them, and if so, it can offer several advantages over traditional full-thickness corneal transplants, such as faster visual recovery, lower risk of rejection, and minimal impact on the eye's structure.
DMEK is the most advanced form of this type of eye tissue transplant procedure and can offer rapid and better quality visual recovery.
Organ, eye and tissue donation saves lives, restores health and improves the quality of life for thousands of Australians each year. One organ donor can save the lives of up to seven people and help many more through eye and tissue donation. For more information visit: donatelife.gov.au
Picture: Dr Lasitha Jayasinghe with patient Jill Upfold, anaesthetist, Dr Jim McGirr and clinical nurse Mika Sumitomo at the St John of God Bunbury Hospital Day Procedure Unit before the surgery was performed.