Corneal transplantation, also known
as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea
is replaced by donated corneal tissue (the graft) in its entirety (penetrating
keratoplasty) or in part (lamellar keratoplasty). The graft is taken from a
recently deceased individual with no known diseases or other factors that may
affect the viability of the donated tissue or the health of the recipient.
What are the Indications of a
Corneal Transplant?
If the cornea is injured, it may
become swollen or scarred, and its smoothness and clarity may be lost. Scars,
swelling, or an irregular shape can cause the cornea to scatter or distort
light, resulting in glare or blurred vision. A corneal transplant is needed if:
- vision cannot be corrected satisfactorily with eyeglasses or contact lenses
- painful swelling cannot be relieved by medications or special contact lenses.
Other conditions that may necessiate
the need for Corneal Transplant
- corneal failure after other eye surgery, such as cataract surgery
- keratoconus, a steep curving of the cornea
- hereditary corneal failure, such as Fuchs' dystrophy
- scarring after infections, especially after herpes
- rejection after a first corneal transplant
- scarring after injury
Q What will happen at the initial
consultation ?
Once your ophthalmologist have determined you need a corneal transplant he or she will perform a full physical to determine whether you have any conditions or are taking any medications that might affect the surgery. He or she will then arrange for you to be put on the list of persons waiting for corneal transplant tissue. At We Care India partner Eye Hospital, your connea transplant will be done immediately, with no wait list.
Once your ophthalmologist have determined you need a corneal transplant he or she will perform a full physical to determine whether you have any conditions or are taking any medications that might affect the surgery. He or she will then arrange for you to be put on the list of persons waiting for corneal transplant tissue. At We Care India partner Eye Hospital, your connea transplant will be done immediately, with no wait list.
What will be done before a Corneal
Transplant in India?
Once you and your Eye M.D. decide
you need a corneal transplant, your name is put on the list at the local eye
bank. Usually the wait for a donor cornea is not very long.
Before a cornea is released for
transplant, the eye bank tests the human donor for the viruses that cause
hepatitis and AIDS. The cornea is carefully checked for clarity.
What are the types of donors for
Corneal Transplant?
Corneal donation comes from people
who are dead. In very rare circumstances, a donor may be living. For example a
patient who has an ocular tumor in the back of the eye may be able to donate
the eye at the time the eye is removed. If an eye is blind and it is removed,
but is healthy in the front, that cornea might also be used. There are no
instances of donation between people who are living in other circumstances.
Q How is the procedure performed
?
The transplant procedure involves removing the diseased or damaged tissue, then replacing it with the donor tissue. The entire operation is done under a surgical microscope. After taking measurements of the amount of tissue to be removed, the diseased corneal is cut and lifted away from the eye with a special round tool that works much like a cookie cutter called a trephine. Once the damaged tissue is removed, the donor cornea is cut to a matching size and placed on the patient's eye. It is held in place with very fine stitches using suture material that is about as thin as a hair.
If there is also a cataract present, this can be removed at the same time and replaced with an intraocular lens. At the conclusion of the corneal transplant procedure, a patch and a metal shield are place over the eye to protect it.
The transplant procedure involves removing the diseased or damaged tissue, then replacing it with the donor tissue. The entire operation is done under a surgical microscope. After taking measurements of the amount of tissue to be removed, the diseased corneal is cut and lifted away from the eye with a special round tool that works much like a cookie cutter called a trephine. Once the damaged tissue is removed, the donor cornea is cut to a matching size and placed on the patient's eye. It is held in place with very fine stitches using suture material that is about as thin as a hair.
If there is also a cataract present, this can be removed at the same time and replaced with an intraocular lens. At the conclusion of the corneal transplant procedure, a patch and a metal shield are place over the eye to protect it.
Q How long does the surgery take
?
The operation usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours.
Q Where will the procedure be performed ?
The procedure is performed in an operating room of a hospital.
What kind of care should be done post Corneal Transplant?
The operation usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours.
Q Where will the procedure be performed ?
The procedure is performed in an operating room of a hospital.
What kind of care should be done post Corneal Transplant?
The quality of life is almost
normal. However certain care and precautions as enumerated below will need to
be observed
- use the eyedrops as prescribed
- be careful not to rub or press on your eye
- use over-the-counter pain medicine, if necessary
- continue normal daily activities but avoid strenuous exercise or activities
- wear eyeglasses or an eye shield for protection, as advised by your doctor
- ask your doctor when you can start driving again
- call your doctor if you have any questions about your home-care instructions
Q
What can I expect after the procedure ?
If the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, you can go home after a short stay in the recovery area. You will need someone to drive you home. The use of general anesthesia will delay your leaving by about two additional hours, to make sure the effects are wearing off.
After the procedure it is important to use the eye drops as prescribed, to not rub or press on the eye, to use over-the-counter pain medication, reduce exercise until healed, use the eye shields and patches as direct by your doctor, and not to drive until given approval.
Q What is the recovery period like ?
The recovery period for corneal transplants is rather long. The stitches will remain in the eye for six to twelve months after the surgery. Eye drops will have to be used while the stitches are in place to assure proper healing.
An extremely important part of the recovery period is constant vigilance as to signs of rejection. Rejection occurs in 5-30% of all transplants and there is an increased risk if this operation is a second transplant after rejection of an initial one. If the rejection is noticed early, medication can be administered that will halt the reaction and save the transplant. Rejection occurs because the body's immune system recognizes the donor tissue as foreign and mounts a response against it.
This damages the tissue such that it can no longer maintain the fluid balance, causing it to swell and lose clarity. Although the tissue will not fall out of the eye upon rejection, another transplant may be necessary to replace the tissue if too much damage occurs.
There are four signs of rejection that can be remembered by the mnemonic RSVP: redness, sensitivity to light, decreased vision, or pain. Any of these four symptoms, experienced after the initial healing period, should be reported to your ophthalmologist immediately.
If the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, you can go home after a short stay in the recovery area. You will need someone to drive you home. The use of general anesthesia will delay your leaving by about two additional hours, to make sure the effects are wearing off.
After the procedure it is important to use the eye drops as prescribed, to not rub or press on the eye, to use over-the-counter pain medication, reduce exercise until healed, use the eye shields and patches as direct by your doctor, and not to drive until given approval.
Q What is the recovery period like ?
The recovery period for corneal transplants is rather long. The stitches will remain in the eye for six to twelve months after the surgery. Eye drops will have to be used while the stitches are in place to assure proper healing.
An extremely important part of the recovery period is constant vigilance as to signs of rejection. Rejection occurs in 5-30% of all transplants and there is an increased risk if this operation is a second transplant after rejection of an initial one. If the rejection is noticed early, medication can be administered that will halt the reaction and save the transplant. Rejection occurs because the body's immune system recognizes the donor tissue as foreign and mounts a response against it.
This damages the tissue such that it can no longer maintain the fluid balance, causing it to swell and lose clarity. Although the tissue will not fall out of the eye upon rejection, another transplant may be necessary to replace the tissue if too much damage occurs.
There are four signs of rejection that can be remembered by the mnemonic RSVP: redness, sensitivity to light, decreased vision, or pain. Any of these four symptoms, experienced after the initial healing period, should be reported to your ophthalmologist immediately.
Other important information
Research is currently being conducted into an oral vaccine that appears to significantly reduce the amount of rejection of corneal transplants. Although this work was done in mice, it is being attempted in humans and might be something you would want to discuss with your ophthalmologist, particularly if this transplant is following up an earlier rejection.
Be sure to : -
Research is currently being conducted into an oral vaccine that appears to significantly reduce the amount of rejection of corneal transplants. Although this work was done in mice, it is being attempted in humans and might be something you would want to discuss with your ophthalmologist, particularly if this transplant is following up an earlier rejection.
Be sure to : -
- Tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have and any medications that you are taking. Include any self-prescribed medications that your are taking, such as herbs or other natural remedies.
- Carefully follow the doctor's instructions regarding the use of eye drops and shields after the surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery.
- Be on constant lookout for rejection symptoms. Remember that this can occur even years after the surgery.
For more
information about Corneal Transplant in India, you can write
to us at info@wecareindia.com.You can visit us at http://www.wecareindia.com/spine-surgery.html
Call us at +911145589996 /
25889996 for further inquiries.
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