What is Corneal Transplantation ?
Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty), is a surgery used to replace a damaged cornea with a donated healthy cornea. In some eyes the surgeon removes the entire cornea, while in others he / she may remove only a part of it. The surgery is used to treat many different corneal diseases and is often the best way to treat infection and save sight. In most cases, the surgery is very successful.
The healthy corneal tissue used for transplantation is supplied by an eye bank. The corneas are collected by human donors within hours of death, and undergo stringent tests to ensure safety of the person getting the cornea transplanted upon. Once the doctor and the personnel at the eye bank are satisfied with the tests conducted, the donated cornea is stored in an appropriate medium to be used for transplantation surgery.
What are the conditions in which Corneal Transplant is done?
- Keratoconus (Forward bulging of the cornea)
- Cornea infection or injuries
- Corneal ulcers (Keratitis)
- Corneal opacities
- Corneal dystrophy
What are the types of Corneal Transplantation Surgeries?
- Therapeutic Keratoplasty (TKP)
- Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP)
- Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)
- Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)
- Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK)
What are the risks & complications of Corneal Transplantation Surgeries?
Even though it is safe corneal transplantation as a surgery, does have a low risk of complications, including:
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Problems with the stitches
- Eye infection
- Rejection of the donor cornea – this occurs when the patient’s body attacks the donor’s corneal tissue. Symptoms of rejection include red eye, sensitivity to light, cloudy vision, and eye pain. You need to consult your eye doctor at the earliest if you notice these symptoms. With early detection, it can be treated with steroid eye drops.
How to prepare for corneal transplantation surgery?
Before Surgery:
- Get an eye exam from an eye doctor to make sure the surgery is safe for your eye.
- Inform the doctor of all the medicines and treatments you are taking.
After Surgery:
- Follow the doctor and counsellor’s instructions closely. Take eye drops or medicines as advised.
- Protect your eye from injury
- Return for follow-ups with your eye doctor as per the schedule
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The cornea is the clear cover on the surface of your eye. Your cornea may be cloudy, causing you to lose vision. If this is the case, a clear donor cornea should fix the problem. Your cornea can also be damaged by other diseases, infections, and injuries.
You will only have a little bit of pain and it should only last for a few days after the surgery. To control the pain, you will take painkillers. In a few cases, the stitches/sutures may break. This will irritate the eye. The sutures may need to be replaced.
The results will depend on what damaged your cornea. Most people will have at least some vision improvement. Vision should get better within 3 months of the surgery. If your doctor tells you to wear glasses, you will need to wear them for vision to improve. It is important that you come for follow-ups to make sure that your eye is healing properly.
You will need to take them for at least 6 months. Depending on the doctor’s advice, you may need to continue them past the 6 months.
You will need to visit your eye doctor after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Sometimes, the doctor may ask you to come back more frequently.
Usually after 1 month. You should wait for the doctor to tell you that the wound has healed. Also, avoid bathing in river water.