Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy · Last reviewed July 6, 2026 · Review policy (Arabic)
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Published: April 2026 | Medical Specialty: Corneal Surgery, Anterior Segment Ophthalmology
Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy is a corneal surgeon based in Cairo, Egypt, specializing in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of corneal disease and the anterior segment of the eye. He trained in corneal surgery at an internationally recognized institution and remains actively involved in the major professional organizations of his field.
His practice offers comprehensive corneal care, drawing on both well-established techniques and the newest surgical approaches. That combination — deep training in advanced corneal surgery plus experience across a wide range of corneal pathologies — is what has made his clinic a specialized corneal surgery center for the Cairo region.
In 2014, Dr. Shaarawy completed a fellowship in corneal surgery at the Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon, USA — a center known for its programs in corneal disease management, refractive surgery, and anterior segment surgical training. Fellowships at institutions of this caliber immerse a surgeon in contemporary techniques and evidence-based approaches to corneal disease.
He holds active membership in two of the field's major professional organizations:
Staying active in both organizations means ongoing professional development — and a commitment to the established standards of corneal and anterior segment surgery.
Dr. Shaarawy's clinical experience spans the surgical and medical management of corneal disease — from routine cases to complex surgical problems that demand genuinely specialized expertise.
Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) — DMEK is an endothelial keratoplasty procedure in which only the innermost cell layer of the cornea (the endothelium, along with Descemet's membrane) is replaced. This technique preserves the structural integrity of the corneal stroma while restoring corneal clarity in patients with endothelial disease. According to ophthalmic literature, DMEK provides advantages compared to full-thickness transplantation, including faster visual recovery, better refractive outcomes, and favorable long-term graft survival when performed by experienced surgeons. Dr. Shaarawy specializes in DMEK surgery.
Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) — DSAEK is another form of endothelial keratoplasty that uses a graft slightly thicker than DMEK. DSAEK is a well-established procedure for treating corneal endothelial insufficiency. Dr. Shaarawy performs DSAEK for patients where this technique is indicated.
Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) — PKP, or full-thickness corneal transplantation, is indicated for certain corneal conditions including advanced keratoconus, corneal scarring, and cases where endothelial keratoplasty techniques are not suitable. Dr. Shaarawy maintains expertise in PKP surgical technique and long-term management.
Additional Keratoplasty Techniques — Beyond the standard procedures, Dr. Shaarawy is experienced in keratoplasty variations and modifications adapted to specific clinical situations and individual patient anatomy.
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) — LASIK is a refractive surgery procedure that corrects myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Dr. Shaarawy's expertise in corneal pathology allows careful patient selection and identification of contraindications to ensure appropriate surgical candidates.
Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) — ICL is a reversible, phakic intraocular lens procedure for refractive correction in patients with high myopia, thin corneas, or other LASIK contraindications. Dr. Shaarawy offers ICL implantation as an alternative approach to refractive correction.
Keratoconus — Keratoconus is a progressive corneal condition characterized by corneal thinning and cone-shaped deformation. Dr. Shaarawy evaluates keratoconus patients using specialized diagnostic techniques and offers management options ranging from specialized contact lens fitting to corneal cross-linking (to slow disease progression) to surgical intervention with keratoplasty when appropriate.
Anterior Segment Surgery — Dr. Shaarawy has experience in anterior segment procedures including cataract surgery, particularly in patients with concurrent corneal pathology requiring coordinated surgical management.
The Devers Eye Institute fellowship grounded Dr. Shaarawy in modern corneal surgical techniques and disease management, and his continued membership in the AAO and ASCRS keeps him engaged with the professional literature, new surgical innovations, and evidence-based practice standards.
Few surgeons cover the full spectrum of corneal surgery: multiple forms of keratoplasty (DMEK, DSAEK, PKP), refractive surgery (LASIK, ICL), and the management of complex corneal disease. Dr. Shaarawy does — and that breadth lets him tailor the surgical decision to each patient's unique anatomy and clinical picture, rather than fitting the patient to a single technique.
The practice incorporates both established and contemporary techniques in corneal surgery, and staying current with surgical innovation is a deliberate priority — it means patients have access to modern treatment options as they mature.
This is not a general ophthalmology practice. It is dedicated to corneal disease and anterior segment surgery — and that narrow focus is precisely what builds and maintains advanced surgical skill.
| Medical Specialty: | Corneal Surgery & Anterior Segment Ophthalmology |
| Fellowship Training: | Devers Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA (2014) |
| Professional Memberships: | American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) |
| Surgical Specialties: | DMEK, DSAEK, PKP, LASIK, ICL, keratoconus management, anterior segment surgery |
| Practice Location: | Cairo, Egypt |
| Practice Type: | Specialized corneal surgery center |
Fuchs' dystrophy is an inherited condition of the corneal endothelium that leads to progressive corneal swelling and vision loss. In its early stages it may respond to topical medications; advanced disease typically requires corneal transplantation. Both DMEK and DSAEK are established surgical options here, and Dr. Shaarawy evaluates each patient to determine which approach fits best.
Keratoconus is a progressive condition in which the cornea thins and distorts into a cone shape. How it is managed depends on severity: early keratoconus may only need specialized contact lenses, progression can potentially be slowed with corneal cross-linking, and advanced disease may require corneal transplantation. Dr. Shaarawy offers comprehensive evaluation and an individualized management plan for each keratoconus patient.
Corneal scarring can follow trauma, infection, prior surgery, or inflammatory disease. Management depends on where the scar sits, how far it extends, and how much it affects vision — treatment ranges from surface therapies all the way to corneal transplantation. Experience across multiple surgical techniques lets Dr. Shaarawy match the approach to each patient's particular scarring pattern.
PBK develops when the corneal endothelium is damaged during or after cataract surgery, causing corneal edema and loss of vision. The definitive treatment is corneal transplantation — DMEK or DSAEK — and Dr. Shaarawy's expertise in endothelial keratoplasty gives PBK patients an effective surgical path forward.
For patients with no contraindications to refractive surgery, LASIK can permanently correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Thin corneas or other LASIK contraindications? ICL implantation offers an alternative route. Either way, a comprehensive preoperative corneal evaluation comes first — that is what ensures the right candidates get the right procedure.
DMEK (Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) is an endothelial keratoplasty procedure in which only the innermost layer of the cornea (Descemet's membrane and endothelium) is replaced. Unlike full-thickness corneal transplantation, DMEK preserves the corneal stroma. According to ophthalmic literature, DMEK offers advantages including faster visual recovery, reduced astigmatic refractive changes, and favorable long-term graft survival compared to full-thickness grafts in appropriate candidates. Dr. Shaarawy's expertise in DMEK provides patients with access to this surgical technique.
DMEK and DSAEK are both endothelial keratoplasty procedures for replacing the corneal endothelium, but they differ in graft thickness and surgical technique. DSAEK uses a slightly thicker graft and was developed earlier; it remains an effective procedure. DMEK uses a much thinner graft consisting only of Descemet's membrane and endothelium, without corneal stroma. According to ophthalmic literature, DMEK typically offers faster visual recovery and better final visual acuity than DSAEK, though DMEK requires greater surgical skill. Dr. Shaarawy's training and experience enable him to offer both procedures, selecting the approach most appropriate for each patient's anatomy and condition.
Recovery time depends on the type of corneal transplant procedure performed. DMEK typically provides useful vision within weeks to a few months, though visual stabilization may take longer. DSAEK has a somewhat more gradual visual recovery. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), a full-thickness procedure, typically has the longest recovery period, often 12 months or longer, due to gradual suture removal and management of refractive changes. Dr. Shaarawy provides detailed post-operative care instructions and monitoring to optimize recovery.
DMEK is appropriate for patients with endothelial disease where the corneal stroma is relatively clear—conditions such as Fuchs' dystrophy and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) is indicated when there is pathology affecting the anterior corneal stroma, such as advanced scarring, keratoconus, or infection. A corneal surgeon evaluates each patient's corneal anatomy, disease pathology, and visual needs to determine the most appropriate surgical approach.
Corneal transplant outcomes depend on multiple factors including procedure type (DMEK, DSAEK, or PKP), graft source quality, patient immune factors, disease indication, adherence to post-operative medications and care, and surgeon experience. According to ophthalmic literature, modern endothelial keratoplasty procedures, when performed by experienced surgeons, achieve good graft survival.
Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy brings together advanced fellowship training in corneal disease and anterior segment surgery, membership in the field's major professional organizations, and extensive experience across the full range of corneal surgical procedures. It is a combination — specialized focus, rigorous training, surgical depth — that supports genuinely high-quality care for corneal and anterior segment conditions.
For patients in Cairo and the surrounding region seeking specialized corneal care — whether corneal transplantation, refractive surgery, or the management of keratoconus and other corneal diseases — Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy offers surgical expertise and comprehensive, patient-centered care.
