Corneal Transplant: An unforgettable experience

By: Mercedes Díaz. Published in the Journal Frontera:
Mérida, January 23, 1994

It was the first time in my life coming as observer, to a surgical room. I must confessthat doubts assailed me moments before.

But the attractive and exciting of experience I decided to watch the operation. It was a transplant, in this case,cornea.

Here is the sequence of what happened, observed and sense for about one hour, while intervention lasted.

I entered moments before the operation start. A clear atmosphere, spacious, neat, with large windows that made it bright and welcoming.

The patient was ready. He looks relaxed, a serene and placid expression on his face with local anesthesia by anesthetist.

The surgeon and his team are ready to begin the operation. My mind was watching intently and concentration all the details.

Fine hands, with a lightness and precision surprising, they manipulate the instruments  and approach.

They work and away to fix the eye having the appearance of one toy. The surgeon proceed to remove the patient’s cornea.

Perhaps the beauty of movement and the classical music playing in the room, made me enjoy them as a ritual dance or a ballet. Fingers and instruments seemed almost ethereal, like dancers that evolved floating in space. Such was thelightness, harmony and precision of all that work.

My view was constantly face the quiet patient to the physician, whose expression of a concentration and passion in what he did, a sense of enjoyment. He is emanating admiration of his performance. It made me think that should be the imagea creative artist putting the finishing touches on his masterpiece.

But the most extraordinary and exciting time in process occurred when the doctor placed the new cornea. It was so beautiful and soft movement.

Sliding entry of the new cornea to the eye, which looked more likea drop of dew falling on the petal of a flower ora drop of rain in our face.

Immediately the surgeon proceeded to use a thin thread as the third part of a hair. After a few minutes he had all completed and the patient left the operating room, walking confident that after a few timeout his happiness would be finding look better and achieve optimal vision.

In front of this prodigy transplant I could not help reflects on how beautiful, human, solidarity and sublime act of organ donation.

As the cornea be leaving this world can the miracle of life and diseased eye gold restore the vision of the world, their peers and
of all things, events and situations They constitute his life.

This act of deepest love for God and neighbor, is great and generous to donate a small part of our organism to another human being, who can
fully realized and feel happy, safe and useful to society to which it belongs.

NOTE: This operation was conducted by the Doctor George Antzoulatos, at the Institute of Surgery Ambulatory of San Cristobal, Tachira state, Venezuela.