Jesper Østergaard Hjortdal, MD, Dr Med Sci, PhD, is Clinical Professor in Ophthalmology at Aarhus University, Denmark, and Consultant and Clinical Director of Corneal and Refractive Surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital. Since 2008 he has also been Medical Director of the Danish Cornea Bank. Dr. Hjortdal became an accredited Specialist in Ophthalmology in 1998 and joined Aarhus University Hospital in 2001, having previously been Honorary Fellow in Cornea and External Diseases at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. Between 2003 and 2009, Dr. Hjortdal was Manager and Chairman of Specialist Education in Ophthalmology in Denmark. He became President of the Danish Ophthalmological Society in 2010 and President of the European Eye Bank Association in 2013. He is co-editor of Acta Ophthalmologica and also an editorial board member of the Journal of Refractive Surgery. His research interests are ocular surface restoration, corneal modelling by photochemical treatment, intrastromal femtosecond laser ablation, corneal banking, and corneal transplantation, and he has published extensively on these subjects.

Reviews novel techniques used in corneal transplantation

History of corneal transplantation.- Anatomy & physiology - considerations in relation to transplantation.- Indications for keratoplasty, patient selection.- Corneal banking.- Penetrating keratoplasty.- Deep lamellar keratoplasty.- Superficial anterior keratoplasty.- Femtosecond laser aided PK and DALK.- Suture techniques.- Immunosuppression.- Tissue typing.- Recurrence of disease.- Complications.- Retransplantation.- DSAEK.- DMEK.- Endothelial cells.- Limbal stem cells.- Handling post-OP astigmatism (AK, PIOL, cataract, laser).- Cataract surgery and transplantation (IOL calculation).- Corneal transplant registers.

This textbook reviews the novel techniques employed in corneal transplantation. It will assist fellows and corneal surgeons in using these techniques to best effect and in selecting patients for surgical procedures, taking into account the benefits and risks. Until 15 years ago the state-of-the art type of corneal transplantation was penetrating keratoplasty. Since the start of this millennium, however, important advances have been made in developing new surgical techniques. Today, the vast majority of keratoplasty procedures are performed as delicate lamellar procedures, either with the assistance of fine microkeratomes or femtosecond lasers or using very advanced surgical dissection procedures. Corneal Transplantation provides detailed information on these and other advances, which have helped patients undergoing keratoplasty to achieve a much faster visual recovery and a more stable eye with less risk of rejection episodes.