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Cornea Transplant Risks & Recovery

During a cornea transplant, a surgeon removes the central portion of the cornea and replaces it with another cornea that is then sewn on with a very fine thread. Transplants are normally conducted to replace a scarred or diseased cornea, which affects vision.

  1. Significance

    • The replacement corneas used for cornea transplants usually come from a donor through an eye bank. Approximately 40,000 corneal transplants are done in the United States annually.

    Rejection

    • Rejection of the donor cornea is the biggest risk in corneal transplants. About 20 percent of corneal transplant patients reject donor corneas. However, if realized quickly, immunosuppressive drugs can be administered to halt the rejection.

    Signs of Rejection

    • The four signs of rejection are redness, sensitivity to light, decreased vision and pain. They can be remembered through the mnemonic RSVP.

    Other Risks

    • Other risks to be wary of include infection, bleeding, swelling, astigmatism, detachment of the retina and glaucoma. These occur much less frequently than rejection, however.

    Recovery

    • Corneal transplants have a long recovery period. The stitches remain in the eye for six months to a year after surgery. Patients must use eye drops during this time to promote proper healing. They will also need to be mindful of rejection symptoms.

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