A corneal transplant is the replacement of a diseased or scarred cornea with a new one. When the cornea is affected through disease or injury, light cannot penetrate and reach the retina resulting in loss of some vision or blindness.
What is the procedure?
Corneal transplant surgery involves removing the central portion of the cloudy or affected cornea and replacing it with a clear cornea that is usually donated through an eye bank.
When the impaired cornea is removed, the surgeon places the new cornea in position and sews it with a very fine thread. The thread stays in for months or years until the eye heals properly. Following the surgery, prescribed eye drops to promote healing will be used for several months.
Is a corneal transplant safe and successful?
Corneal transplants have become very common in the United States, and about 40,000 are performed annually. Because of technological advances, the chances of success are now greater and these operations have restored vision to many, who a few decades ago may have been blinded permanently by corneal injury, infection, or inherited corneal disease or degeneration.
What are the risks?
Although the success rate for corneal transplants is reasonably high, the body can reject the new cornea. When this happens, vision diminishes and there is increased redness of the eye, pain, and a heightened sensitivity to light. Should any of these persist for longer than six hours, call your ophthalmologist immediately. Rejection can be treated, provided medication is administered at the first sign of rejection symptoms.
