Cornea transplant

This is a full-thickness transplant of the cornea where the donor cornea, cut to fit, is placed in the eye.

It involves replacing or reshaping the outer and middle (front) layers of the cornea.

This procedure replaces the deeper (back) layers of the cornea.

This procedure uses an artificial cornea when the patient is not eligible for a donor cornea transplant.

The patient undergoes a physical exam and other tests to ensure they are healthy enough to have the surgery. They may need to stop taking blood thinners or other medicines before the surgery as recommended by the ophthalmologist.

Depending on the treatment type, the surgeon may remove and replace a circular part of the diseased cornea with a matching portion of the donor cornea. They may remove only a very thin layer of cells from the front of the cornea and replace it with donor tissue and stitch it into place.

Alternatively, only the damaged inner layer of the cornea is removed and a thin disc of healthy donor tissue is placed on the back surface of the cornea.

After surgery, the ophthalmologist usually tapes a shield over the patient’s eyes to keep them safely covered. The stitches from the surgery may or may not be removed, depending on their type and the health of the eye.