Cornea Lasik doctors Medical Eye Center

Cornea and Corneal Transplantation

The cornea is the clear surface on the front of your eye. Serious, irreversible vision problems can occur when the cornea becomes diseased or damaged. Such conditions include:

In severe cases, a corneal transplant may help restore vision. Corneal transplants are the most common kind of transplants in the United States. About 50,000 corneal transplants take place each year. Corneal transplants are used to treat persistent corneal infections, corneal dystrophies (a clouding of the cornea), traumatic corneal injuries, and corneal scars that cannot be corrected by other therapies. During a corneal transplant, the damaged portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with a new cornea that is shaped to fit your eye.

In addition to receiving the same training as other general eye surgeons, cornea specialists Dr. Matt Oliva and Dr. John Welling completed an additional year of intensive surgical training for procedures involving the cornea. This training, coupled with many years of experience, makes Drs. Oliva and Welling exceptionally qualified to perform corneal transplantation procedures.

If you’ve been diagnosed with corneal disease, Dr. Oliva or Dr. Welling will work hand-in-hand with you to determine the best possible course of action. Medicare and most insurance plans will cover the cost of a corneal transplant. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our offices in Medford or Grants Pass. We’re here to help.

Get EyeSmart

Visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s webpage on Corneal Transplantation.

Corneal Cross-Linking

Learn more about this newly-approved treatment!

Second Suns book cover

Giving Back

Dr. Matt Oliva is a board member and co-medical director of the Himalayan Cataract Project, which is the subject of a new book by Random House called Second Suns. It tells the story of the international non-profit’s work restoring vision to people in the poorest communities of Asia and Africa. Learn more…

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