Corneal Transplant

The art and science of corneal transplantation dates back approximately 150 years, but the era of modern keratoplasty can be traced to pioneer surgeons of the nineteenth century. The most significant contributions to the field were recorded in 1952 when Dr. Stocker first reported successful corneal transplantation for the treatment of irreversible corneal edema. The early success was due in large part to the development of adjunct drugs and the perfection of fine surgical instruments and sutures.

Once a medical rarity, corneal transplantation today is an accepted and reliable surgical modality for the rehabilitation of vision that has been compromised by corneal disease. It is estimated that over twenty thousand such procedures are performed annually in the United States alone. The increasing longevity of our population accounts for some of the increases in the number of these procedures due in part to the gradual loss of corneal clarity that can occur through the aging process. Many of the procedures are performed to correct corneal edema associated with commonly performed operative procedures such as cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation.

The major indication for corneal transplantation surgery is to restore optical clarity. Among the conditions requiring such intervention are: corneal irregularity such as seen in scarring, corneal opacification as an aftermath of infectious disease or corneal contour abnormalities such as those seen with acquired thinning in a condition called keratoconus.

In corneal transplant surgery a diseased cornea is replaced with healthy tissue supplied by an eye bank. Prospective donor tissue is processed by the eye bank and checked for viability and health. Careful attention is directed to the screening of donors to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

The surgery is performed in a hospital operating room setting under local or general anesthetic. Most procedures can be conducted on an outpatient basis although some patients can require a period of in- hospital observation following surgery, depending upon the severity of their underlying problem. Corneal transplant surgery is often performed in combination with cataract/implant or glaucoma surgery as conditions indicate.

In general, the rehabilitation of vision following corneal transplantation can take a considerable amount of time and requires great skill on the part of the corneal surgeon. The healing process is carefully monitored and the new cornea treated with topical therapeutic agents to allow for the development of the best visual potential. Most patients can expect to enjoy considerable visual improvement beginning at three months following surgery with steady further improvement thereafter.

If you have questions concerning corneal transplant surgery or need further information on the treatment of corneal diseases feel free to contact our offices by E-mail or phone.