The Truth about Corneal Transplants

Corneal transplants sound like something Dr. Frankenstein might perform on a corpse. In fact, that definition isn’t that far from the truth…

A corneal transplant is a surgical procedure that takes the corneal tissue from a deceased donor and uses it to replace the part of your cornea that was damaged or needs replacing. This procedure is also commonly referred to as a corneal graft, or keratoplasty, (not to be confused with Glaucoma Surgery).

The objective of a corneal transplant is primarily to restore vision to patients, though it has also been used to eliminate eye pain and improve the appearance of damaged corneal tissue. This procedure has commonly been cited as being the most successful of all tissue grafts in the United States.

Are you a Corneal Transplant Candidate?

One thing many patients want to know is whether or not they are a candidate for this procedure. Your Optometrist may recommend you for a corneal transplant if you’ve suffered eye disease injuries, symptoms of which can include the following:

• Scarring or eye infection
• Chemical damage to the cornea
• Edema (swellin of the eye)
• Keratoconus

Corneal Transplants Procedures can cause other side effects. Talk to your doctor for more info.

Risks of Corneal Transplants

There are a few things that can go wrong while receiving a corneal transplant. As in any surgery, there is the chance of infection. Eye infections can be serious and need to be treated immediately. Other complications include swelling of the eye, a pressure increase from within the eyeball, and a rejection of the donor cornea.

Cornea graft rejections are in fact rather common, and occur about 20% of the time. This seems like a troubling statistic, but other eye complications are usually to blame. If you get this surgery, you’re going to need to know the signs of the corneal rejection. They are listed below:

• Sensitivity to light
• Excessive eye pain
• Redness
• And loss of vision

If you act quickly, these effects can be reversed.

How do I find a Donor Cornea for Corneal Transplants?

You might be surprised to know that you probably won’t have to endure a long wait for a corneal transplants donor tissue. For active organs like livers and kidneys, there’s usually a waiting list. However, as mentioned above in a Frankenstein-ian joke, corneal transplants are just cornea tissue taken from deceased individuals. Since the eyes are always closed during a viewing and funeral service, the families aren’t usually against taking their corneal tissue.

Corneal Transplants Procedures

The actual procedure isn’t as serious as you might think. Hospitalization usually isn’t required. Anesthesia is used, and the patient’s eyelids are held open with a lid speculum. Your original tissue is then removed and the new tissue is then sutured in to replace it.

Recovering from Corneal Transplants

Despite being an effective method for dealing with excessive eye damage and disease, corneal transplants can take up to a year before vision returns to normal. For the first few weeks especially, heavy lifting or straining or any kind are prohibited to prevent the stitches popping out. However, if you have a generally stress free job, you should be able to return back to work after about a week of healing, your vision aided by glasses until not necessary.

Are Corneal Transplants Right for Me?

You need to speak with an Optometrist to be sure which surgery is best for you. Fill out our contact form to get a free medical evaluation.