Corneal Transplantation

The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped tissue on the front of the eye. It is the size of a dime and is similar to the crystal that covers the face of a watch. If the cornea becomes scarred or hazy from disease or injury, the light rays passing through it are distorted, resulting in a reduction of vision. In some cases a corneal transplant may be necessary to replace the scarred cornea with a healthy one. Our cornea surgeons at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat Associates have been performing corneal transplantation for almost 40 years with excellent success. Corneal transplantation is the oldest and most successful type of tissue transplant. Most patients, 80-90 percent, have a successful operation and maintain a clear transplant.

If you are having a transplant, your eye is the recipient eye because it is receiving the graft; the other person’s cornea is the donor tissue because the cornea is being donated or given to you. It is the policy of all eye banks that the donor remain anonymous, however, certain general points might be of interest. If there is no evident abnormality of the corneal tissue, donors between ages 5 and 75 are considered acceptable. Sex, race, blood type, near and far-sightedness, and eye color are not considered in selecting the donor because they do not affect the outcome of the corneal transplant surgery.

Your ophthalmologist performs the surgery as he or she looks through a microscope in order to do this very delicate work with great precision. After the scarred cornea is removed, your surgeon places the new corneal graft in the opening and sews it with fine thread or suture, usually finer than a human hair. This suture stays in for months or even many years until your eye heals properly.

For an eye that has no problems other than a corneal dystrophy, the chances of having a clear graft are better than 90 percent. But to be successful, you must carefully follow the schedules for using your medications and seeing your eye doctor. Failure to follow the prescribed schedules could greatly decrease the chances of successful surgery.

There are four danger signs following surgery that require immediate attention by your eye physician: red eye, decreasing vision, increasing pain, and significant light sensitivity.

Be sure to visit one of our cornea surgeons personally for any additional information you require.