Corneal Transplants Allow Patients An Improved Outlook

A south Fort Myers ophthalmologist is changing the way corneal transplants are being done around the world, while cutting down on healing time and reducing the risk of future visual injuries.

Dr. Mark Gorovoy's work has been noticed by colleagues and he is referred to as one of the top experts in the world on the procedure, which is called deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty, or DLEK.

"He has a good reputation," said University of Alabama at Birmingham Dr. John Parker, who also does the procedure. "He's a leader, in perhaps the world, with this procedure. He knows more of the ins and outs than most people. I think he's in the top two or three people in terms of volume in the world and in terms of international recognition."

The technique was first conceived by Dutch ophthalmologist Gerrit Melles, but Parker said Gorovoy ranks up there with an Indiana-based surgeon named Dr. Francis Price in terms of experience, outcomes and recognition in the field.

"The standard for the last 50 years has been a penetrating keratoplasty," Gorovoy said.

During that procedure, an entire donated cornea is sewn onto a patient's eye after the diseased cornea is removed. The cornea is the outermost layer that protects the eye and acts as a lens.

Read more about this delicate procedure here