*This article is a guideline only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Always contact your eye care doctor with questions and for treatment options.
A corneal transplant, also known as corneal grafting or keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves replacing a damaged or diseased cornea with a healthy donor cornea. The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped tissue that covers the front of the eye, allowing light to enter and helping to focus it properly. When the cornea becomes damaged due to injury, infections, or diseases like keratoconus, vision can be severely impaired, and a cornea transplant may be necessary to restore sight.
The Procedure
Before the surgery, the donor cornea is meticulously evaluated for quality to help ensure a successful transplant. During the procedure, the surgeon carefully removes the central portion of the damaged cornea and replaces it with the donated cornea. The new cornea is then secured into proper position using tiny, thread-like sutures.
Recovery and Post-Operative Care
After the procedure, the patient is prescribed medications, including antibiotics and corticosteroids, to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. Regular follow-up appointments with the surgeon are crucial to monitor the healing process and ensure the eye is responding well to the transplant. It is common for vision to be initially blurry or distorted, but as the eye heals and the sutures are gradually removed, visual acuity improves.
Success and Risks
Corneal transplant surgery is generally a safe and effective procedure, with a high success rate. However, like any surgical procedure, there are risks involved. These risks may include:
- infection,
- rejection of the donor cornea,
- astigmatism, and
- glaucoma.
It is essential to discuss these potential risks with your doctor and to follow all post-operative instructions carefully to minimize the chances of complications.
Conclusion
A corneal transplant is a surgical procedure that helps restore vision in individuals with damaged or diseased corneas. By replacing the damaged cornea with a healthy donor cornea, corneal transplant offers hope to those suffering from vision loss. While the surgery is generally considered safe there are notable risks. However, PROSE treatment may prevent the need for a corneal transplant. If you are experiencing vision problems due to corneal damage or disease, consult an eye care doctor to determine if a cornea transplant or another treatment, such as PROSE, ma be right for you.
Links to literature outlining PROSE success:
- Fluid-ventilated, gas-permeable scleral contact lens is an effective option for managing severe ocular surface disease and many corneal disorders that would otherwise require penetrating keratoplasty: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15894881
- Treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defect with overnight wear of a prosthetic device for the ocular surface: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24075432/
- Early Postoperative Therapeutic Scleral Lens Intervention for Penetrating Keratoplasty Complications in Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37167589/
- Improvement of chronic corneal opacity in ocular surface disease with prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem (PROSE) treatment: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29552666/