Cornea Specialist In Richmond

Dr. Pradhan is a Board Certified Opthamologist, specializing in many different conditions of the eye, including ones involving the cornea. The cornea is a highly organized group of cells that is the outermost structure of the eye. The cornea plays an important role in your vision, and if damaged or misshapen, can distort and impair your vision. Dr. Pradhan is a fellowship-trained expert in corneal diseases and can help you if you’re experiencing vision problems. Please read further to learn more about corneal diseases and find more resources on the cornea.

What is the Cornea? What are Corneal Diseases?

Information on Corneal Diseases – NIH Website

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea where parts of it may be thin and abnormally dome-shaped. This will distort your vision. Your doctor can monitor your cornea with a slit lamp examination as well as topography and anterior segment OCT.

In its early stages, keratoconus patients can see well with glasses, or may need contact lenses to see well. At it’s moderate stage, the cornea may become so distorted that glasses or contact lens do not help your vision. At the mild and moderate stages of the disease, collagen crosslinking, now FDA approved as of 2016, can help stop the progression of the disease as well as provide some reversal. This is the first time we can stop the progression of keratoconus which is amazing. At the severe stage, the cornea may need a corneal transplantation for visual rehabilitation.

We are pleased to offer collagen-crosslinking with the new Avedro machine at Eye Doctor MD PC. Located in Glen Allen, outside of Richmond in Henrico County. Collagen-crosslinking allows Dr. Pradhan to strengthen the cornea via a minimally invasive treatment, allowing her patients to keep their own cornea without needing a corneal transplant.

Patient brochure: Collagen-Crosslinking for Keratoconus.

Dr. Pradhan is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained Cornea specialist.

What is Keratoconus? EyeSmart Website
National Keratoconus Foundation

What is the Research Being Done on Keratoconus?

O’Brart et al published a paper showing that after collagen-crosslinking, both the topography and vision improved upto 5 years and maintained over 7 years without need for re-treatment. “Corneal Cross-linking to Halt the Progression of Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia: Seven-Year Follow-up”. American Journal Ophthalmol 205; 160(6):1154-1163.

What is Fuchs’ Dystrophy?

Fuchs’ dystrophy is a hereditary disorder that we commonly treat at our eye specialists Dr. Pradhan’s ophthalmology practice. Fuchs’ Dystrophy is where the pump cell layer of the cornea develops abnormal protein deposits (guttata) which can distort your vision. The pump cells are responsible for pumping the fluid out of your cornea and keeping your cornea clear. We are born with a certain number of pump cells and we do not get anymore after birth. If your corneal pump cells start degenerating faster than the normal rate with guttata buildup or due to trauma, the cornea can become swollen. If the cornea becomes so swollen that you cannot see or you start having pain from your swollen cornea, you may need a corneal transplantation.

Fortunately, we now perform partial thickness corneal transplantation for this condition at our Ophthalmology practice in Henrico County. Partial thickness corneal transplants are beneficial because they result in a faster recovery and lower chance of rejection. Dr. Pradhan is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained Cornea specialist. Which means when you step foot into our Eye Specialist’s office in Glen Allen you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.

For more information on Fuch’s Dystrophy and corneal Transplantation, please visit the sites below.

What is Fuchs’ Dystrophy? EyeSmart Website

Where can I learn about Corneal Transplantation?

EyeBank Association of America
Donate Life Virginia

Visit Your Glen Allen Opthamologist

Our eye specialist, Dr. Pradhan, has experience with treating many different corneal diseases as well as other conditions of the eye. If you are experiencing problems with your eyes or eyesight, visit our Glen Allen ophthalmologist’s office to get your eyes checked by an eye professional. Contact our office today.