About Cornea Transplant Surgery

Cornea transplant procedures generally have a high success rate, but there is a small risk of complications, such as rejection of the donor cornea. Rejection occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the transplanted tissue. This may require additional interventions or even another transplant.

During a cornea transplant, the damaged corneal tissue is either partially or entirely removed and replaced with healthy donor tissue.

Common Symptoms Indicating a Need for Transplant:

• Loss of vision

• Eye pain

• Redness in the eyes

• Sensitivity to light

Procedure of Cornea Transplant Surgery

There are three main types of cornea transplant procedures:

1. Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK): This full-thickness corneal transplant involves removing the entire central portion of the damaged cornea with a thin circular blade and replacing it with a healthy donor cornea of the same shape.

2. Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK): This procedure is used when the outer and middle layers of the cornea are damaged but the innermost layer, the endothelium, remains healthy. During DALK, the surgeon removes the central and outer layers of the cornea and replaces them with donated healthy tissue.

3. Endothelial Keratoplasty: This surgery focuses on repairing damage to the innermost layer of the cornea, known as the endothelium, which lies on Descemet’s membrane. This method typically requires fewer sutures, using an air bubble to hold the donor cornea in place instead.

All corneal transplants utilize tissue from deceased organ donors, and each donor cornea undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its safety for transplantation.