What is Cornea Transplant?
A cornea transplant also known as Keratoplasty, is a surgical method used to replace the cornea with corneal tissue. Corneal tissue is obtained from a donor who wants to donate it. The cornea is a dome-shaped transparent part of the eyes. It is the site from where light enters the eyes.
Corneal diseases are the fifth leading cause of losing eyesight in the world. Cornea transplant helps in restoring vision and is, therefore, the most common and most successful method to treat corneal disease. It also improves the appearance of the eye's damaged and diseased corneal part. It is done as an outpatient procedure.
Who needs Cornea Transplant?
Along with treating vision loss, Cornea transplant surgery also improves the following medical conditions:-
- Keratoconus (when the cornea becomes thin and bulges outward like a cone)
- Deposition of amyloid in eyes that may lead to vision loss
- Degeneration of the innermost corneal layer
- Swelling of the cornea
- Scaring or clouding of the cornea
- Corneal ulcers that are not managed with the medicines
- Any complications caused by previous eye surgery
- Corneal lacerations
- Fuchs' dystrophy (Corneal swelling and thickening resulting in cloudiness due to accumulation of fluid)
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What are Recovery and Post Op. Care after Cornea Transplant?
You may expect the following after the cornea transplant surgery:
- You will remain in the recovery room for about one or two hours.
- You may be able to be home on the same day of the surgery.
- For the first few days, your eyes might remain red. It may remain irritated and sensitive to light.
- The surgeon may prescribe you some pain relievers to relieve pain post-surgery.
- The doctor may give steroid eye drops to prevent inflammation and antibiotics from preventing infection. You need to administer the eye drops strictly as directed.
- The surgeon may provide you with an eye patch. You have to wear it for a few weeks to protect your eyes.
First follow-up appointment
You may expect the following during the first few follow-up appointments:
- Adequate eye care plays a vital role in desired outcomes and recovery.
- The best way to prevent postoperative complications is to go for follow-up appointments regularly.
- The sutures may get cut during the follow-up appointments.
- In addition, the doctor may provide some painkillers to relieve the pain caused after the surgery.
- The doctor will test if the transplanted cornea functions fine and if there are no complications at follow-up appointments.
- Vision might be different from the previous eyes. This difference can be corrected by using a contact lens or eyeglasses.
- After the transplantation, vision may change rapidly. Therefore it is essential to visit eye doctors regularly.
What are Risks and Complications after Cornea Transplant?
The majority of corneal transplant surgeries are not urgent, and thus their delay may not cause any complications. However, the vision of these patients, waiting for the transplant, does not improve without a corneal transplant. Therefore, the patients may have a problem driving, loss of employment or not fit for particular jobs, anxiety and depression, headaches, and risk of injury. However, once the matching donor is found, the patient should undergo a corneal transplant as soon as possible.
Immediately consult a doctor if you have started experiencing any following signs and symptoms.
- Pain in eyes
- If there is redness in the eyes
- If you experience hazy or cloudy vision
- Bleeding from the site of the incision
- Swelling in the corneal area
- If there is an increase of pressure inside the eyeballs, you are experiencing pain, gradual vision loss, or the sudden appearance of floaters.