We have good news for people who have damaged cornea and want to have better vision! Cornea transplant has become easier and quicker and is the most common and most successful transplant procedure.
Keratoplasty, also called cornea transplant or cornea grafting, is a surgical intervention to remove part or entirety of the cornea and replace it with new, healthy donor tissue. The cornea is the front part of the eye that facilitates the passage of light.
Interestingly, ophthalmologists have been performing this procedure for 100 years. Therefore, it’s certainly not a new innovation by any means!
Types of keratoplasty include penetrating keratoplasty (PK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and endothelial keratoplasty (EK). Your doctor will choose the right type for your case depending on which part of the cornea is damaged.
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Keratoplasty may be able to restore or improve your vision after developing a disease that damages your cornea. In short, below are the benefits of this surgery:
Restore your vision and your ability to see bright lights clearly
Reduce eye pain resulting from corneal damage or disease
Improve the appearance of a damaged cornea
Treat different eye conditions, such as keratoconus and corneal ulcers
Receive a very successful transplant procedure
Candidates for Keratoplasty (Cornea Transplant)
First, you need to contact an experienced ophthalmologist to discuss with them everything related to the surgery. They may prepare for the surgery by doing the following:
Obtain the donated cornea from deceased individuals whose families gave permission.
Perform a physical exam and take exact measurements of your eye.
Instruct you to stop using certain medications, including blood thinners.
Instruct you to stop eating and drinking after midnight on the night before surgery.
Tell you to keep your face free of makeup, creams, lotions, and jewelry.
Arrange for someone to escort you after the procedure.
Steps of Keratoplasty (Cornea Transplant)
Despite being a delicate procedure, ophthalmologists can perform keratoplasty in outpatient facilities, and only need less than 2 hours to complete it under local anesthesia. Here is a brief overview of its steps:
1. Cut the Recipient’s Cornea
Your doctor is going to operate on your eye using a microscope and will start the surgery by removing or cutting a circular piece from your damaged cornea using a cookie cutter-like knife called a trephine.
2. Cut the Donor Cornea
Next, your doctor will use another similar knife to cut and remove a piece from the donor cornea.
3. Place the Donor Cornea
Finally, your doctor replaces the recipient’s cornea with the donor cornea and uses fine sutures to sew it into place.
Recovery After Keratoplasty (Cornea Transplant)
You may experience irritation, light sensitivity, and redness in the first few days following the surgery. The recovery phase may also entail the following:
Take over-the-counter pain relievers and eye drops as your doctor prescribes.
You will have an eye patch on your eye after the surgery. Wear it when showering and sleeping.
You need to avoid certain activities to prevent unwanted damage.
Your surgeon will check on your condition within 24 to 48 hours of your surgery.
Some transplant procedures require you to lie flat on your back during the day and night.
Your doctor will take out stitches at the office a few months later.
Full recovery of vision and eyesight may take several months or a year because the cornea heals slowly.
Risks of Keratoplasty (Cornea Transplant)
Keratoplasty is a safe procedure but it’s still carrying some risks and potential side effects. For instance, organ rejection can occur in about 1 out of 10 patients. This happens when your body’s immune system attacks the donated cornea. Other side effects include:
Corneal bleeding, infection, or swelling
Glaucoma or cataracts
Fluid leakage from your cornea
Visual acuity problems
Detachment of the corneal transplant
Detached retina
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FAQ's
What is the cornea?
– The cornea is a thin, transparent layer at the front of the eye.
– It helps you focus on the image so that it appears clear and visible.
Candidates for Keratoplasty
Ophthalmologists often suggest keratoplasty for people who have the following eye conditions:
Inherited or genetic eye diseases, such as Fuchs’ dystrophy
Cornea scarring due to infection or injury
Corneal clouding or swelling
Corneal ulcers
Keratoconus
What are the pros of corneal transplantation?
– Improve vision
– Reduce pain
– Improve the outer appearance of the cornea if its color has turned to white or if any wound or scars.
Who are the candidates for the surgery?
The doctor might recommend patients with the following eye diseases to undergo a corneal transplant:
– Keratitis
– Keratoconus
– Corneal ulcers
– Thinning or clouding of the cornea
– Corneal swelling
What are the types of corneal transplant?
– Penetrating keratoplasty.
– Partial keratoplasty.
– Keratoplasty (only the affected corneal lining is removed).
When vision improvement manifests after the surgery?
The patient needs several weeks or a few months until the wound heals and vision improves and returns to normal.
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