Corneal Transplants
The cornea is the clear, living tissue on the very front part of the eye. Occasionally, either through disease or injury, the corneal tissue is damaged to a point where a corneal transplant procedure is needed to replace the damaged cornea with a clear cornea from the eye bank.
A corneal transplant surgery is performed to replace the clear surface on the front of the eye (the cornea).
Description
Most corneal transplants are done while you are awake. The health care provider will anesthetize the eye area so you do not feel any pain during surgery. You may be given a sedative to reduce anxiety.
The tissue for the corneal transplant is taken from a recently deceased person whose family agreed to donate it.
The most common type of corneal transplant is called penetrating keratoplasty. During this procedure, the surgeon removes a small circle-sized piece of your cornea. The donated cornea is stitched onto the opening in your eye. Your doctor will remove the stitches at a later date.
Why the Procedure is Performed
Corneal transplantation is recommended for persons who have:
- Thinning of the cornea that causes vision problems (keratoconus)
- Scarring of the cornea from severe infections or injuries
- Cloudiness of the cornea that causes vision loss (Fuchs dystrophy)
Full visual recovery may take up to 1 year. Most patients with successful corneal transplants will enjoy good vision for many years.
