Cornea Transplant Surgery Basics
Cornea transplant surgery, or keratoplasty, replaces your eye’s clear front structure—the cornea. This procedure corrects how your eye focuses light to restore vision and boost your quality of life.
Cornea transplants are commonly performed to repair damage that occurred in a prior surgery or as a result of an ulcer. It can also help people who suffer from conditions like keratoconus, bullous keratopathy, or Fuchs’ dystrophy.
Common Cornea Transplant Misconceptions
Myth 1: It Involves Implanting a Medical Device
Your new cornea will come from a human organ donor. Before the transplant, it’ll undergo extensive safety testing.
Myth 2: You’ll Have Your Entire Cornea Removed.
Doctors don’t always have to replace the entire cornea, and most err on the conservative side. If you have remaining healthy tissue, your surgeon can perform a partial transplant.
Myth 3: You’ll Be in the Hospital for a While
This surgery is often performed in under two hours. You’ll usually be able to leave the hospital afterward, although you’ll need someone to drive you home and monitor you overnight.
Myth 4: Cornea Transplant Recovery Is Difficult
Different surgeries require distinct recovery strategies, but most are well-tolerated by patients. At a bare minimum, you’ll need to wear an eye patch while the redness, irritation, and light sensitivity subsides. Most of these issues are manageable with over-the-counter painkillers.
Patients whose transplants affected their innermost cornea layers must stay face up for a few days. All patients need to avoid putting pressure on their eyes or rubbing them, and most are advised to avoid certain activities and wear eye protection.
Your surgeon will usually do a follow-up within one to two days. You’ll receive a prescription for eye drops to aid recovery, and you may need precautionary antibiotics. Some patients also have sutures removed at a later date.
Explore Your Cornea Transplant Options at Cape Fear Cataract & Cornea
A cornea transplant might help you see better and enjoy life again. Want to discover whether this treatment is right for you? Book a consultation with Dr. Brian J. Groat in Wilmington, North Carolina, at Cape Fear Cataract & Cornea by calling 910-769-4590.
