Cone and scar mapping
Thickness and shape to see if the inner layer is truly healthy.
Corneal Transplant
Corneal Transplant
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK)
Front-and-middle layer transplant at Neera Eye Centre, Darya Ganj — used for advanced keratoconus when your inner cell layer is still healthy.
Your inner cells
Endothelium kept when it is healthy
Keratoconus
Common reason for DALK
HOTA
Registered transplant centre
5,000+
Corneal transplants performed
Service Overview
DALK replaces the thick front part of the cornea and leaves your own innermost cell layer in place. That matters in advanced keratoconus or a deep front scar: glasses and even rigid lenses no longer give a usable image, but the inner pump cells can still be yours. Surgery uses donor tissue for the front layers. Stitches stay for months. Vision improves as the surface heals and stitches are adjusted. If the inner layer is already damaged, DALK is the wrong operation — DSEK, DMEK or PK is discussed instead. We will not “try DALK” on a swollen, failed endothelium.
What It Covers
Lens history
Whether scleral or rigid lenses still work — transplant is not automatic.
Layer separation
The front cornea is separated from your inner layer, then replaced.
Stitches
A planned suture pattern; later selective removal.
Long follow-up
Steroid drops and reviews like any graft.
Who It Is For
Advanced keratoconus
When C3R, rings or contact lenses cannot restore usable sight.
Front-layer scars
Opacities that spare the inner cells.
Not for endothelial failure
Swollen Fuchs’-type corneas need a back-layer graft.
How It Works
Anaesthesia
The eye is numbed. You should not feel pain.
Front layers off
Diseased stroma is separated from your inner layer.
Donor front on
A partial-thickness donor cornea is stitched in place.
Shield and drops
Protection and a steroid schedule from day one.
Stitch clinic
Months of visits; glasses or a lens after the surface is stable.
Why Choose Us
5,000+ corneal transplants at Neera Eye Centre, Darya Ganj, HOTA-registered. DALK is offered to keep your inner cells — that is the medical reason, not a slogan. If the inner layer is unhealthy, we will not sell DALK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DALK painful?
The operation is under anaesthesia. Afterwards the eye is scratchy and photophobic. Pain is managed; it is not a painless week.
How long is recovery?
Useful vision is often weeks to months. Stitches may stay many months. This is slower than DMEK, faster in rejection terms than many PKs.
How much does DALK cost in Delhi?
Quoted after we confirm DALK is possible. Tissue and follow-up are part of the written estimate. No website price list.
Why not just do PK?
PK replaces your inner cells too. If they still work, keeping them usually means less rejection. If they do not work, PK or an endothelial graft is honest.
Can DALK convert to PK?
Yes, if the inner layer tears during surgery. That possibility is discussed before you sign.
Will keratoconus come back in the graft?
The donor tissue does not have your cone. The remaining host rim still needs monitoring. C3R may still be relevant in other contexts before transplant.
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