Corneal Surgery

Corneal transplant surgery (also called penetrating keratoplasty) has become very effective, with the highest success rate and lowest rejection rate of any transplant surgery.

When the cornea is damaged by any condition that prevents it from providing a clear layer on the surface of the eye, it may be impossible to achieve good vision with glasses or contacts due to the corneal abnormality.  While some corneal damage can be treated by performing corrective surgery on the surface of the cornea (sometimes this can be done with a laser) more often vision can only be restored with a corneal transplant.

Corneal Thickness

Chemical Burn

Corneal transplant surgery involves removing the damaged cornea from the eye and replacing it with a new cornea.  The new cornea has come from a donor, just as other organs are donated after death, such as kidneys, livers or hearts.  The new cornea is sewn into place, and after surgery, a clear pathway for light to reach the retina has been restored.

Donor Cornea

Sutured Cornea

Sutures

Corneal transplant surgery is a complicated procedure, and full recovery can take from a few months up to a year in some cases. 

Failed Graft

Eyedrops are used to accelerate healing and prevent rejection of the foreign tissue, but fortunately corneal transplant rejections are uncommon and can usually be treated with eyedrops alone, in contrast to rejection of other organ transplants.