During these uncertain times, Dr. Pilavas is scheduling in-person appointments but also providing telemedicine visits from the comfort of your own home. Appointments can be booked through our website. Please call 718-204-5100 for more information.
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Cornea Specialist

John Pilavas, MD Our Services Cornea

John Pilavas, MD

Ophthalmologist located in Astoria, Long Island City, NY & New Hyde Park, NY

Dr. John Pilavas is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions that affect the cornea. He encourages all of his patients in the Astoria area of New York to visit his office if they begin to experience any problems with their vision. Dr. Pilavas is able to offer a variety of procedures, including corneal transplants, to help his patients regain their vision.

Cornea Q & A

What conditions affect the cornea?

The cornea of the eye can be affected by many different elements: Damage to the eye or health conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, can irreparably damage the cornea. Corneal failure may occur if a cataract surgery doesn't work as well as it should. Fuch's dystrophy and herpes keratitis can damage the cornea, too, causing it to weaken or fail completely. Repeated surgeries, infections, and scar tissue can also lead to a weakening of the cornea.

In any of those situations, Dr. Pilavas can perform a corneal implant to restore the patient's vision.

How are corneal transplants beneficial?

Corneal transplants are beneficial in many ways. By transplanting a cornea that’s disease-free, Dr. Pilavas can restore partial, if not all, of the vision a patient has lost due to an injury or the buildup of scar tissue. By transplanting a cornea, Dr. Pilavas can also restore the patient's vision to the point that they may no longer need corrective lenses. However, a patient who’s at risk for glaucoma or cataracts may not be a good candidate for this type of procedure.

What is the recovery time for a corneal transplant?

A corneal transplant is traumatizing to the eye, so the recovery time is slow because the body must adapt to the new cornea; rejections are rare, but they can occur. In most cases, there’s a minimal risk of infection, but close monitoring by Dr. Pilavas can help to protect the eye from any unhealthy conditions.

Because of the extensive healing time, it's important that the eye be protected to prevent the surgery area from being injured. That may involve the use of steroid drops to reduce inflammation, or the use of protective eyewear while outside or in areas where the environment is unpredictable.