CORNEAL TRANSPLANT INFORMATION
You may be experiencing problems with the outer (clear) layer of your eye called the cornea. These problems may stem from damage, disease, injury, old infection problems, swelling, or possibly genetics (keratoconus). Whatever the circumstances may be, the outer layer of your eye has been affected, and is now damaged or cloudy. This has caused your cornea’s ability to be limited and you do not have good correctable vision as a result.
Your doctor has told you that you need a corneal transplant and want to know what that means.
This information page is here to help answer some of your questions.
The cornea was one of the first successful organ transplants and remains a very common one (about 40,000 per year). Donated eyes are evaluated against strict laws and guidelines by an eye bank before being approved for transplantation.
The corneal tissue from a donor cornea is used to replace the damaged tissue of your own cornea. This is called a graft, and this graft is measured to replace the damaged tissue and is sewn into place. You may have to wait until a cornea is available, but usually one can be obtained if surgery is scheduled in advance.
Some risks involved in having corneal transplants are infection, cataracts, glaucoma, bleeding, inflammation or retinal detachment, failure of the new cornea to function, and rejection (5%-30% risk). Most of the conditions can be treated if they occur before or after the transplant takes place.
The postoperative period is the most important time for the care of the new cornea. Strict use of drops will be needed to prevent infection and to help guard against rejection of the new tissue. Some cortisone drops can be lessened with time, but often, it is recommended that a daily drop be used for the rest of your life. Your commitment to using the medications recommended is important to the success of your new corneal tissue. YOU MUST BE COMMITTED TO YOUR OWN CARE and come for all of your appointments. Notify us right away if you notice abnormal changes.
Some corneal transplant warning signs are pain, redness, foreign body sensation, sensitivity to light, or decrease in vision. Most rejections can be reversed if a you are seen as soon as symptoms begin. (In other words, as stated above, return right away if you notice any changes.) Conditions in other parts of the eye related to macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinal changes that exist prior to the corneal transplants will still be present post operatively.
If rejection should occur, a corneal transplant can be repeated, usually with good results, but the overall rejection rates for repeated transplants are slightly higher than for the first transplant. Irregular curvature of the new cornea (astigmatism) may slow the return of vision, but is treatable with glasses or contacts. Your vision may continue to improve up to a year after transplant surgery.
***Never forget that corneal transplant surgery would not be possible without the thousands of generous donors and their families who have donated corneal tissue so that you might have a chance to see!
If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call us at (478) 923 5872.
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