What is Corneal transplant?
Corneal transplant surgery, also referred to as keratoplasty, involves replacing a portion of the cornea with donor tissue to help restore vision, lessen pain, and improve the appearance of a damaged or diseased cornea.
The cornea is an essential component of the eye that contains proteins and blood vessels, & any harm to it may result in vision loss. Infections, poor diet, and eye trauma or injury primarily cause corneal disease. Symptoms of a corneal disease are swollen eyelids, blurred vision, and watery eyes. An experienced cornea specialist can precisely diagnose various diseases. Treatments vary, from medications for dry eyes to corneal transplant surgery, effectively addressing corneal blindness and restoring vision.
Types of Cornea Transplants
A cornea transplant involves removing the entire thickness or part of the diseased cornea and replacing it with healthy donor tissue. The cornea surgeon will choose the appropriate method, which may include:
- Penetrating Keratoplasty: A full-thickness transplant where the surgeon removes a small disk of corneal tissue and replaces it with donor tissue, secured with stitches that may be removed later.
- Endothelial Keratoplasty: This method involves the removal of diseased tissue from the back layers of the cornea, including the endothelium and Descemet membrane.
- Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (ALK): Removes diseased tissue from the front corneal layers but leaves the back endothelial layer intact.
- Artificial Cornea Transplant (Keratoprosthesis): For patients not eligible for a donor cornea transplant, an artificial cornea may be implanted.
| Procedure Name | Cornea Transplant |
|---|---|
| Type of Surgery | Major surgery |
| Type of Anesthesia | Local anesthesia |
| Procedure Duration | Nearly 60 minutes |
| Recovery Duration | A few weeks to months |
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