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| FAQ > CORNEAL TANSPLANTATION | ||||||
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Corneal Transplant Surgery: A Sight Restoring Procedure: |
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Donated eyes collected by various eye banks are used for Corneal Transplant Surgery, which is the most frequent and successfully performed human organ transplant surgery done today. |
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The Cornea is the clear, outer covering of the eye that covers the colored iris & pupil. Light is focused whilc passing through the cornea. If the cornea is damaged it may become swollen or scarred, causing a loss in smoothness & clarity. Scars, swelling or irregularities in shape can cause the cornea to loss transparency & clarity. Scars, swelling or irregularities in shape can cause the cornea to loss transparency & scatter or distort light, resulting in glare, blurred vision & even blindness. A cornea transplant can cure that blindness. To date, it is not medically possible to transplant the entire eye. |
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Corneal transplants should not be confused with cataract surgery. A cataract develops when the natural internal lens which is located behind the iris, or coloured part of the eye, become cloudy. In some cases the two procedures may be combined, but basically cataract surgery & cornea transplant treat different eye conditions |
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When an ophthalmologist determines that a patient requires a corneal transplant, the patient's name is put on a waiting list at the eye bank. The length of time a patient's name is on the waiting list depends on the frequency at which donor corneas are received by the eye bank. It is important for people to donate corneas in large numbers to make up the shortage in donations. |
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Before a cornea is released for transplant, the eye bank tests the human donor for the viruses that cause hepatitis and AIDS, and the cornea is carefully checked for clarity. |
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| It is not necessary to match donor & recipient by sex, age, race or eye color. Covered with a plastic shield to protect it from injury, the patient may go home after a few hours in the nursing home. | ||||||
The corneal transplant can be rejected by the body in approximately 5-30% of grafts. This also depends in the pre-operative disease. The rejected cornea clouds & vision deteriorates. Whereas most rejections take place within the first 3-4 months after surgery, they can occur even many years later. Most rejections, if promptly treated, can be reversed with minimal injury, warning signals for rejection include: |
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Irregular curvatures of the transplanted cornea due to high cylindrical power (astigmatism) slow down the visual recovery, and can be treated by stitch (suture) adjustment and/ or removal. Healing Process: This varies from patient to patient, however, for most there is little discomfort & vision graduality improves over time. Stitches are generally removed after several months or upto 3 years after surgery. Vision usually stabilizes after about one year, at which time glasses are usually prescribed. |
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How will a corneal transplant works depends on each individual & the conditions affecting his or here eyes. A successful corneal transplant requires care & attention from both patient and physician. A patient who has undergone a corneal transplant must routinely & regularly follow up with his ophthalmologist (every 6 months) even if he or she has no complaints. |
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Corneal transplant surgery would not be possible without the hundreds of thousands of generous donors and their families who have donated corneal tissue so that others may see. |
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