Rare Cornea Transplant

The infant, the only daughter born to parents after 7 sons, was referred just 4 days after birth to the Cornea Clinic in the Department of Ophthalmology at Schneider Children’s. She was suffering from Peters Anomaly, an abnormality of the eye causing opacity in the central area of the cornea, which required a full cornea transplant.

Diagnosis, operation and follow-up care was conducted by a team in the Ophthalmology Department at Schneider Children’s headed by Dr. Gad Dotan and surgeon Dr. Uri Elbaz, a specialist in cornea maladies in the Ophthalmology Department at Schneider Children’s and Beilinson Hospital.

Dr. Elbaz noted that “it was a complicated transplant due to the size of the infant’s eye and the need to adapt the standard surgical technique. Now, several months post-surgery, the baby has recovered well with the implant and has normal intraocular pressure. The chances of rejection at such a young age are much greater than in adults, and therefore the infant needed frequent follow-up to prevent and treat any potential complications. It is important to note that over and above devoted medical care, full parental cooperation and response was needed for optimal sight rehabilitation. The child’s parents understood this and followed medical recommendations meticulously, for which they deserve much praise.”