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Diseased Corneas can be replaced in corneal transplant operations.
Irregular, diseased or cloudy corneas are replaced with a clear new one.
The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic which will mean the patient is hospitalised for between 1 - 3 days but occasionally can be completed under a local anaesthetic.
The cornea is our clear window at the front of our eye, it lies in front of the black pupil and coloured iris. A contact lens wearer places their lens on the front of the cornea. If the cornea has become diseased a transplant operation will remove a central disc from the cornea and replace it with a clear healthy cornea donated by a an transplant doner. the new cornea is sewn into place.
The recovery time for a cornea transplant can be up to a year and you will not know what your final vision will be like until you are fully healed. Eye drops will be given for up to twelve months to assist healing.
The general success of the operation depends on the condition the patient has. The commonest cause is keratoconus. The success rate for which stands at about 90-95%.
The complications that could arise after transplant surgery are rejection of the new cornea and astigmatism.
Your body can recognise that the new cornea is foreign and rejection of that part can cause inflammation and cloudiness of the new cornea The vision may become blurry and the eye itself red or sore. rejection in corneal transplants can be treated if caught quickly, usually with eye drops.
With astigmatism( an irregularity of the cornea) the cornea could still be irregular after surgery but can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. in one per cent of cases further surgery may be required to make the cornea a more regular shape.