{"id":3294,"date":"2020-05-30T10:12:57","date_gmt":"2020-05-30T05:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/?p=3294"},"modified":"2026-08-21T13:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T09:31:12","slug":"corneal-transplant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/corneal-transplant\/","title":{"rendered":"Corneal Transplant and Keratoprosthesis"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>Corneal Transplant<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>A cornea transplant replaces diseased or scarred corneal tissue with healthy tissue from an organ donor.\u2028There are two main types of cornea transplants: traditional, full thickness cornea transplant (also known as penetrating keratoplasty, or PK) and back layer cornea transplant (also known as endothelial keratoplasty, or EK).\u2028A graft replaces central corneal tissue, damaged due to disease or eye injury, with healthy corneal tissue donated from a local eye bank. An unhealthy cornea affects your vision by scattering or distorting light and causing glare and\u00a0blurred vision. A cornea transplant may be necessary to restore your functional vision.<br \/>\nCorneal eye disease is the fourth most common cause of blindness (after\u00a0cataracts,\u00a0glaucoma\u00a0and\u00a0age-related macular degeneration) and affects more than 10 million people worldwide.<br \/>\nSince 1961, more than one million people have had their sight restored with a cornea transplant.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%DA%86%D9%87_%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C_%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D8%A8%D9%87_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87_%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AF%D8%9F\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>When Do You Need a Cornea Transplant?<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>A healthy, clear cornea is essential for good vision. If your cornea is damaged due to eye disease or eye injury, it can become swollen, scarred or severely misshapen and distort your vision.<br \/>\nA corneal transplant might be required in cases of conditions such as trichiasis, where eyelashes turn inward and rub against the surface of the eye, causing scarring and vision loss.<br \/>\nA cornea transplant may be necessary if eyeglasses or contact lenses can\u2019t restore your functional vision, or if painful swelling can\u2019t be relieved by medications or special contact lenses.<\/p>\n<p>Certain conditions can affect the clarity of your cornea and put you at greater risk of corneal failure. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scarring from infections, such as\u00a0eye herpes\u00a0or\u00a0fungal keratitis.<\/li>\n<li>Scarring from trichiasis, when eyelashes grow inwardly, toward the eye, and rub against the cornea.<\/li>\n<li>Hereditary conditions such as\u00a0Fuchs\u2019 dystrophy.<\/li>\n<li>Eye diseases such as advanced\u00a0keratoconus.<\/li>\n<li>Thinning of the cornea and irregular corneal shape (such as with keratoconus).<\/li>\n<li>Rare complications from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/lasik-surgery\/\">LASIK<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Chemical burns of the cornea or damage from an\u00a0eye injury.<\/li>\n<li>Excessive swelling (edema) of the cornea.<\/li>\n<li>Graft rejection following a previous corneal transplant.<\/li>\n<li>Corneal failure due to\u00a0cataract surgery complications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Are You a Cornea Transplant Candidate?<br \/>\nA cornea transplant is performed to improve the function of the cornea and improve vision. If pain is caused by a significantly diseased or damaged cornea, a cornea transplant may relieve that symptom.\ndamaged cornea due todiseaseor eye injury, distorted vision<br \/>\n<strong>Procedure time:<\/strong>\u00a0one to two hours<br \/>\n<strong>Typical results:<\/strong>\u00a0significant improvement in visual function<br \/>\n<strong>Recovery time:<\/strong>\u00a0several weeks to a year<\/p>\n<p>With these factors in mind, you also should consider several important questions before you decide to undergo a corneal transplant:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Does your functional vision impede your job performance or your ability to carry out daily activities?<\/li>\n<li>Can your vision be corrected with special\u00a0contact lenses\u00a0or other less invasive measures?<\/li>\n<li>How will the cost of cornea transplant surgery affect your financial situation if your\u00a0vision insurance\u00a0does not cover everything from pre-screening to post-operative consultations?<\/li>\n<li>Are you able to take enough time off from work or school (up to six months to a year in some cases) to recover properly?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>All of these questions, in conjunction with a thorough screening and consultation with your\u00a0eye doctor, must be carefully considered before you make the final decision to have a corneal transplant.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85_%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84_%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%DB%8C_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Tips for corneal transplant surgery<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h2><span id=\"%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Before the Procedure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Once you and your eye doctor decide a cornea transplant is the best option for you, your name is placed on a list at a local eye bank.<\/li>\n<li>You may need to wait a few days to weeks for suitable tissue from a donor eye to become available for a corneal transplant.\u2028<\/li>\n<li>\u0642\u0628\u0644 \u0627\u0632 \u0627\u0633\u062a\u0641\u0627\u062f\u0647 \u0627\u0632 \u0628\u0627\u0641\u062a \u067e\u06cc\u0648\u0646\u062f\u06cc\u060c \u0648\u062c\u0648\u062f \u0647\u0631 \u06af\u0648\u0646\u0647 \u0628\u06cc\u0645\u0627\u0631\u06cc \u0627\u062d\u062a\u0645\u0627\u0644\u06cc \u0645\u0627\u0646\u0646\u062f \u0647\u067e\u0627\u062a\u06cc\u062a \u0648 \u0627\u06cc\u062f\u0632 \u0628\u0631\u0627\u0633\u0627\u0633 \u2026 \u0628\u0631\u0631\u0633\u06cc \u0645\u06cc\u200c\u0634\u0648\u062f.<\/li>\n<li>In accordance with the Only corneas that meet these stringent guidelines are used in corneal transplant surgery to ensure the health and safety of the graft recipient.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"%D8%AD%DB%8C%D9%86_%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>During\u00a0<\/strong><strong>the Cornea Transplant<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Your eye surgeon will first administer either local or general anesthesia, depending on your health, age, eye injury or disease, and whether or not you prefer to be asleep during the procedure.\u2028<br \/>\nYour eye surgeon will first administer either local or general anesthesia, depending on your health, age, eye injury or disease, and whether or not you prefer to be asleep during the procedure.\u2028If local anesthesia is used, an injection is made into the skin around your eye to relax the muscles that control blinking and eye movements, and eye drops are used to numb your eye. You will be awake during the procedure and most people don\u2019t report any discomfort.\u2028After the anesthesia has taken effect, an instrument called a lid speculum is used to keep your eyelids open. Your surgeon then measures the affected corneal area to determine the size of the donor tissue needed.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%BE%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C_%D9%86%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B0%DB%8C_%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B4_%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Traditional corneal transplant surgery<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>During traditional corneal transplant surgery, or penetrating keratoplasty (PK), a circular button-shaped, full-thickness section of tissue is removed from the diseased or injured cornea using either a surgical cutting instrument called a trephine or a\u00a0femtosecond laser.\u2028A matching \u201cbutton\u201d from the donor tissue is then positioned and sutured into place. The sutures (stitches) remain in place typically for a year or more after surgery.\u2028Lastly, a plastic shield is placed over your eye to protect it during healing.\u2028Penetrating keratoplasty surgery generally takes one to two hours and most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home a short while after the surgery (though you will need someone to drive you home).<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA_%DA%86%D8%B4%D9%85%DB%8C\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Who Can Be a Corneal Tissue Donor?<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>How old is too old to donate eye tissue for a corneal transplant?<br \/>\nA decade ago, it was common for surgeons to reject corneas from people over 65 years old.<br \/>\nBut the Cornea Donor Study has concluded that corneas from people aged 34-71 are likely to remain healthy for most recipients after 10 years, with a success rate of 75 percent.\u2028<br \/>\nSince corneas from people under age 34 do perform better in corneal transplants, it has been suggested that younger people should receive these younger corneas.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%BE%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%84\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Endothelial keratoplasty<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>In the past decade, a newer version of corneal transplant surgery called endothelial keratoplasty (EK) has been introduced for certain corneal conditions.\u2028<br \/>\nEndothelial keratoplasty selectively replaces only the innermost layer of the cornea (endothelium) and leaves the overlying healthy corneal tissue intact. The endothelium controls the fluid balance in the cornea, and if it becomes damaged or diseased, this can cause significant corneal swelling and loss of vision.\u2028<br \/>\nIn EK, the surgeon makes a tiny incision and places a thin disc of donor tissue containing a healthy endothelial cell layer on the back surface of your cornea. An air bubble is used to position the new endothelial layer into place. The small incision is self-sealing and typically no sutures are required.<br \/>\nThe most common type of EK procedure is called Descemet\u2019s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty, or DSEK. The American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2009 endorsed DSEK as superior to the conventional full-thickness corneal transplant procedure (penetrating keratoplasty) for better vision outcomes and stability, as well as fewer risk factors.<br \/>\nEndothelial keratoplasty has several advantages over full-thickness penetrating keratoplasty. These include: faster recovery of vision; less operating time; minimal removal of corneal tissue (and therefore less impact on the structural integrity of the eye and less susceptibility to injury); no related suture complications; and reduced risk of\u00a0astigmatism\u00a0after surgery.\u2028<br \/>\nWithin a relatively short period of time, the EK corneal graft procedure has become the preferred technique for patients with Fuchs\u2019 dystrophy and other endothelial disorders of the cornea. However, traditional full-thickness PK is still the most appropriate option when the majority of your cornea is diseased or scarred.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF%DB%8C_%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Recovering From a Cornea Transplant<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Total cornea transplant recovery time can be up to a year or longer. Initially, your vision will be blurry for the first few months \u2014 and in some cases may be worse than it was before \u2014 while your eye gets used to its new cornea.<br \/>\nAs your vision improves, you gradually will be able to return to your normal daily activities. For the first several weeks, heavy exercise and lifting are prohibited. However, you should be able to return to work within a week after surgery, depending on your job and how quickly your vision improves.\u2028<br \/>\nSteroid eye drops will be prescribed for several months to help your body accept the new corneal graft, as well as other medications to help control infection, discomfort and swelling. You should keep your eye protected at all times by wearing a shield or a pair of eyeglasses so that nothing inadvertently bumps or enters your eye.\u2028If stitches were used in your surgery, they usually are removed three to 17 months post-surgery, depending on the health of your eye and the rate of healing. Adjustments can be made to the sutures surrounding the new corneal tissue to help reduce the amount of astigmatism resulting from an irregular eye surface.<br \/>\nAs with any type of surgery, always follow the instructions of your eye surgeon to help minimise corneal transplant complications and expedite healing.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%D8%B1%D8%AF_%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Cornea Graft Rejection<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Cornea transplants are performed routinely and have a reasonable success rate. In fact, cornea grafts are the most successful of all tissue transplants.<br \/>\nCornea transplant rejection can be reversed in 9 out of 10 cases if detected early enough.<br \/>\nLike any other surgical procedure, a cornea transplant comes with certain risks. But, for most people, having their vision improved or restored outweighs the potential complications associated with cornea transplant surgery. It is a very personal decision for a patient to decide to undergo cornea transplant surgery.<br \/>\nComplications of a corneal transplant can be significant and can include cornea graft rejection,\u00a0eye infection\u00a0and problems associated with the use of stitches.\u2028Rejection of the donor tissue is the most serious complication after a corneal transplant and occurs in 5 to 30 percent of patients. Transplant rejection is when your body\u2019s immune system detects the donor cornea as a foreign body and attacks and tries to destroy it.\u2028Research indicates that having glaucoma and corneal swelling associated with previous\u00a0cataract surgery\u00a0can increase your chances of cornea graft rejection.\u2028Recognising the main warning signs of corneal transplant rejection is the first step to preventing graft failure. These can be remembered using the acronym\u00a0RSVP:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Redness<\/li>\n<li>Extreme\u00a0Sensitivity to light<\/li>\n<li>Decreased\u00a0Vision<\/li>\n<li>Pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Rejection signs may occur as early as one month or as late as several years after surgery. Your eye doctor will prescribe medication that can help reverse the rejection process. If detected early, the graft will be successful 9 out of 10 times, according to the Cornea Research Foundation of America.\u2028Should your graft fail, corneal transplant surgery can be repeated. While repeat surgery generally has good outcomes, overall rejection rates increase with the number of corneal transplants you have.<\/p>\n<h1><span id=\"%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF\" class=\"ez-toc-section\"><\/span><strong>Vision After a Cornea Transplant<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>Your eyesight should gradually improve a few weeks after a corneal graft, but it could take anywhere from a couple of months up to a year to have stable vision in the eye that receives the donor tissue.\u2028After your cornea transplant has fully healed, it\u2019s possible to undergo\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/lasik-surgery\/\">LASIK<\/a>\u00a0eye surgery to improve your vision.\u2028<br \/>\nYou will be left with a degree of\u00a0myopia\u00a0(nearsightedness) and astigmatism, because the curve of the new corneal tissue can\u2019t match exactly the curve of your natural cornea.\u2028<br \/>\nPost-surgery refraction is somewhat unpredictable, and large amounts of astigmatism will still present a challenge when fitting those patients with glasses afterwards.\u2028<br \/>\nMild\u00a0refractive errors\u00a0caused by corneal transplant surgery can be corrected with glasses; otherwise contact lenses are required.\u2028Rigid gas permeable contact lenses, also known as RGP or GP lenses, and\u00a0hybrid contact lenses\u00a0usually are the most suitable contacts for corneal transplant patients due to the irregularity of the cornea after transplant. However, soft contact lenses often are an option as well.\u2028Because your vision will fluctuate during the first few months following your surgery, it is advisable to wait until your eye doctor tells you your vision is stable before you fill an\u00a0eyeglass prescription\u00a0or are fitted for contact lenses.\u2028After your eye has fully healed and any stitches used have been removed, you may be eligible to undergo laser eye surgery such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/lasik-surgery\/\">LASIK<\/a>\u00a0\u06cc\u0627\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/prk-surgery\/\">PRK<\/a>\u00a0to improve your ability to see with or without glasses or contacts by reducing myopia and astigmatism.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u067e\u06cc\u0648\u0646\u062f \u0642\u0631\u0646\u06cc\u0647 \u0686\u06cc\u0633\u062a \u0648 \u0686\u06af\u0648\u0646\u0647 \u0627\u0646\u062c\u0627\u0645 \u0645\u06cc\u200c\u0634\u0648\u062f\u061f \u067e\u06cc\u0648\u0646\u062f \u0642\u0631\u0646\u06cc\u0647 \u06cc\u06a9\u06cc \u0627\u0632 \u0627\u0646\u0648\u0627\u0639 \u062c\u0631\u0627\u062d\u06cc\u200c\u0647\u0627\u06cc \u0686\u0634\u0645 \u0645\u06cc\u200c\u0628\u0627\u0634\u062f \u06a9\u0647 \u0637\u06cc \u0622\u0646 \u0642\u0631\u0646\u06cc\u0647 \u0627\u0647\u062f\u0627\u06cc\u06cc \u062c\u0627\u06cc\u06af\u0632\u06cc\u0646 \u0642\u0631\u0646\u06cc\u0647 \u0622\u0633\u06cc\u0628 \u062f\u06cc\u062f\u0647\u200c\u06cc \u0628\u06cc\u0645\u0627\u0631 \u0645\u06cc\u200c\u0634\u0648\u062f. \u062f\u0648 \u0646\u0648\u0639 \u0627\u0635\u0644\u06cc \u0628\u0631\u0627\u06cc \u0627\u06cc\u0646 \u067e\u06cc\u0648\u0646\u062f \u0648\u062c\u0648\u062f \u062f\u0627\u0631\u062f\u061b \u0627\u06af\u0631 \u06a9\u0644 \u0642\u0631\u0646\u06cc\u0647 \u0646\u06cc\u0627\u0632 \u0628\u0647 \u062c\u0627\u06cc\u06af\u0632\u06cc\u0646\u06cc \u062f\u0627\u0634\u062a\u0647 \u0628\u0627\u0634\u062f\u060c \u062c\u0631\u0627\u062d\u06cc \u06a9\u0631\u0627\u062a\u0648\u067e\u0644\u0627\u0633\u062a\u06cc \u0646\u0641\u0648\u0630\u06cc \u0646\u0627\u0645\u06cc\u062f\u0647 \u0645\u06cc\u200c\u0634\u0648\u062f. \u062f\u0631 \u0635\u0648\u0631\u062a\u06cc \u06a9\u0647 \u0641\u0642\u0637 \u0628\u062e\u0634\u06cc \u0627\u0632 \u0642\u0631\u0646\u06cc\u0647 \u062a\u062d\u062a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-68"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3294"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3308,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3294\/revisions\/3308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drsiamakzarei.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}