The cornea is the clear front "window" to the eye
through which light passes. The normal cornea is completely
transparent living tissue. Due to injury or disease, the cornea
may become damaged and opaque (place cursor over image). Light
may no longer effectively pass through the damaged cornea
resulting in diminished vision. Although circumstances and
methods may vary by doctor, here is generally how a cornea
transplantation surgery occurs:
Getting on the Schedule
When an ophthalmologist determines that a patient requires
a cornea transplant, the patient's name is listed on the eye
bank's surgery schedule. As cornea transplant surgery is conducted
generally on an elective basis, there is not waiting list
for donor corneas.
When you are notified of the date of your surgery, you should
let your family and employer know. You may want to discuss
how long you will be absent from work with your ophthalmologist,
as the amount of time depends on how fast you recover and
the kind of work you do. You also should make arrangements
for a family member or friend to provide transportation. You
also may need someone to take you to your doctor’s appointments
after surgery if you do not see well enough to drive yourself.
Preparing for Surgery
Prior to surgery, the patient is given laboratory tests
that may include X-Rays, electrocardiogram, blood, urine and
other eye tests. These are scheduled tests, done just prior
to surgery. Patients are asked not to eat or drink anything
after midnight, the night before their scheduled surgery.
Surgery
Cornea transplant surgery may be performed under general
or local anesthesia. The patient's face is cleansed/prepped
and covered with sterile cloths. The surgeon performs the
operation, which usually lasts between one and two hours,
looking through a high-powered surgical microscope. You will
not see the surgery while it is happening, and you will not
have to worry about keeping your eye open or closed.
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Cornea Transplant
Surgery |
• The recipient's damaged or diseased cornea is
prepared for surgery.
• Using a trephine, an instrument like a cookie
cutter, the surgeon removes the cloudy cornea.
• The surgeon places the new donor cornea in the
opening and cleans the surface of the eye.
• The surgeon sews the cornea into place using a
very fine thread, one-third the thickness of a human hair.
• Eye drops are put onto the eye to promote healing
and will be needed for several months.
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Creative Management, Inc. |
After Surgery
After surgery, the patient's eye is patched with eye
pads and covered with a metal or hard plastic shield to protect
it from injury. The day after the surgery, the doctor examines
the eye and usually puts the patch back on. Many patients
are able to open their eyes and notice visual improvements
immediately.
Before going home, the patient is instructed on how to use
the necessary medications, which may be ointments or eye drops,
and given a medical schedule to follow.
Recovery
The early recovery period generally varies between
one to three weeks following surgery. In this period, the
patient should avoid rubbing his/her eyes and avoid any external
contact with the eyes. Also any activity that will increase
blood pressure to the head or the eye should also be avoided
e.g. any activity that requires heavy lifting, bending the
head lower than the waist; or any straining that requires
holding ones breath should be avoided.
Recipients should not undertake activities that require good
vision (such as driving a car) while their eye is patched
or until their vision is adequately restored. It is also very
important for patients to keep every follow-up appointment
with their doctor throughout the recovery period and to use
medication exactly as prescribed.
Warning Signs
If the patient's body begins to reject the transplant
or if any other problems occur, the situation can often be
remedied if the patient contacts the doctor immediately. If
a graft does fail, another cornea transplant is performed.
Transplant recipients must watch for the following conditions:
* Redness of the Eye. For the first few weeks after surgery,
the eye will be red and become less red as time goes on. However,
any substantial increase in redness or redness after recovery
is cause to contact the doctor.
* Light Sensitivity. Some light sensitivity after surgery
is expected and it should gradually decrease. If the eye becomes
more sensitive to light than usual, the doctor should be notified.
* Vision Loss. Patients are advised to select an object at
home to test their vision on every day. Changes in vision
are expected, but if the check point appears more cloudy or
blurred than in previous checks, the doctor must be called.
* Pain. Small twinges of pain during the healing process are
expected. But the doctor must be notified if the eye hurts
or throbs steadily for more than two or three hours.
Important Note: This
site only provides general information about cornea transplantation.
The web site, or any eye bank personnel, do not offer any
medical advice or assistance. Any questions about your personal
condition or situation should be directed to your personal
doctor or ophthalmologist.
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