Corneal Transplant

Corneal transplant or corneal grafting or keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure which involves the substitution of a damaged or diseased cornea to reinstate and bring back full vision. The success rates of corneal transplant procedures are significantly high. Affordable and cost effective corneal transplants are available at a number of medical tourism destinations abroad.

RECOVERY AFTER A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
Usually, vision improves after several months, post the keratoplasty operation. Occasionally, it could even take more than a year to heal completely. What’s more, recovery after a corneal transplantation surgery greatly depends on the body’s healing capacity, and whether the rest of the eye was healthy, prior to the operation.
ALTERNATIVES TO A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
BENEFITS OF HAVING A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
- A cornea transplant restores a person’s vision.
- It reduces pain that is caused by disease or trauma
THE AVAILABILITY OF A DONOR CORNEA FOR CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
SUCCESS RATES OF CORNEAL TRANSPLANTS
The Cornea Transplant surgery is one of the most efficient and successful organ transplant surgeries. The success depends greatly up on the extent and nature of damage / injury to the eye. The success rate of the procedure could be as high as 95 %.
PREPARING FOR A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
- The ophthalmologist examines the eye in detail, and discusses the various surgical options available to the patient.
- The corneal replacement surgery can take place only once a donor is found.
- Routine laboratory tests, blood tests, and X-rays are performed.
CORNEA TRANSPLANT INDIA
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN AFTER A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT PROCEDURE
- You ought to ensure that you take the prescribed oral anti-biotics and the eye drops regularly to check infections, swelling and pain.
- Steroidal drops have to be taken for a few months to prevent a rejection of the cornea.
- A metal eye shield is placed over the eye for protection and must be kept for the first few days after the surgery.
- You have to be extra cautious and protect the eye from injury at all times.
- Safety glasses during exercise are a must.
- Stay away from rigorous exercises and lifting heavy weights. They delay healing and recovery, and put the corneal replacement at risk.
- Stitches are removed after 3 to 17 months after the corneal grafting procedure.
- Regular check ups and examinations by the ophthalmologist are of absolute importance.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OR RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
- Eye infection
- Increased pressure within the eye
- Bleeding
- A wound leak and swelling
- Poor or delayed wound healing
- Glaucoma
- A rejection of the transplanted cornea, which would involve another surgical process
- There is a possibility of loss of vision in that particular eye.
- A loss of the entire eye
- Death, due to severe reaction to the anesthesia.
CORNEAL TRANSPLANT: THE PROCEDURE
- The procedure for a corneal eye transplant is carried out under a general anesthesia or a local anesthesia and a sedative.
- Drapes are placed around the eye.
- An eyelid speculum is used to keep the eye open.
- The eye is lubricated so as to ward off drying.
- Only the innermost portion of the cornea is involved in the transplantation process. A suitable portion of the patient’s cornea is excised, using a trephine, and it is then replaced with a same sized disc from the donor cornea, and sutured in to place.
- Anti-biotic eye drops are placed in the eye and the eye is covered up.
- The patient can go home after this and must come back the next day for the first follow up.
INDICATIONS FOR CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION
- To improve vision by replacing the clouded or opaque cornea by a healthy corneal tissue. The commonest indications for a corneal transplant, (also, called corneal grafting), are – pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, keratoconus, corneal degeneration, keratitis, and trauma.
- To protect the corneal structure and integrity or to restructure the anatomy of the eye, e.g. when a corneal perforation occurs.
- To eliminate an inflamed corneal tissue that is insensitive to anti-biotic treatment.
- To enhance the appearance of a patient who has a corneal scar

Treatments

CORNEAL TRANSPLANT
The procedure for a corneal eye transplant is carried out under a general anesthesia or a local anesthesia and a sedative. Drapes are placed around the eye. An eyelid speculum is used to keep the eye open. The eye is lubricated so as to ward off drying. Only the innermost portion of the cornea is involved in the transplantation process. A suitable portion of the patient’s cornea is excised, using a trephine, and it is then replaced with a same sized disc from the donor cornea, and sutured in to place. Anti-biotic eye drops are placed in the eye and the eye is covered up. The patient can go home after this and must come back the next day for the first follow up. View

CORNEAL TRANSPLANT

The procedure for a corneal eye transplant is carried out under a general anesthesia or a local anesthesia and a sedative.

Drapes are placed around the eye.

An eyelid speculum is used to keep the eye open.

The eye is lubricated so as to ward off drying.

Only the innermost portion of the cornea is involved in the transplantation process. A suitable portion of the patient’s cornea is excised, using a trephine, and it is then replaced with a same sized disc from the donor cornea, and sutured in to place.

Anti-biotic eye drops are placed in the eye and the eye is covered up.

The patient can go home after this and must come back the next day for the first follow up.

View