Corneal Transplant

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What is Cornea?

The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye. It lies directly in front of the iris and pupil, and it allows light to enter the eye. it is a person’s ‘window’ to the outside world. It allows transmission of light into the eye and helps to focus the light on to the retina- the photographic layer of the eye.

Who Needs Corneal Transplantation?

The most common reason for performing a keratoplasty is to improve diminished vision. More rarely, the surgery is performed to treat a chronic corneal infection. In extremely rare cases, the operation is performed for cosmetic reasons, when corneal scars have affected the appearance of the eye.

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Am I A Candidate For Corneal Transplant?

Does your present vision gives you difficulty in your everyday life?

yes no

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your present vision?

yes no

Do you have difficulty to recognise the face of people?

yes no

Do you have difficulty to read text in newspaper?

yes no

Are you worried about cosmetically for white opacity in your eye?

yes no

Donations Change Lives

Your cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped surface of your eye that accounts for a large part of your eye's focusing power. A cornea transplant (keratoplasty) is a surgical procedure to replace part of your cornea with corneal tissue from a donor.

A cornea transplant can restore vision, reduce pain and improve the appearance of a damaged or diseased cornea.

Blindness is a major health problem in developing countries like India. The major causes of blindness in India are cataracts and glaucoma, followed by corneal blindness. The global burden of blindness has been estimated by 39 million. Out of the blind in India about 6.8 million are blind due to corneal pathology of whom 1 million have bilateral blindness. This figure of corneal blindness is expected to increase to 10.6 million by 2020. According to NPCB & (National Programmed for Control of Blindness) there are 120,000 blind people in India due to corneal disease and there is an additional need for 25,000 to 30,000 corneas every year.

Who Can Donate Corneal Tissue?

Everyone is a universal donor for corneal tissue — the donor’s blood type does not have to match the blood type of the recipient. Age, eye color and eyesight are not factors either. Aside from those suffering from infections or a few highly communicable diseases, most people are potential cornea donors. Under the following conditions donation cannot occur: HIV or AIDS, Active Hepatitis, Active Syphilis, Rabies, Viral Encephalitis, Leukemia, Active Lymphoma, or Active Meningitis.

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Corneal Disease:

Corneal abrasion A scratched cornea can be very painful and can lead to an eye infection.

Pterygium A pterygium is a fibrous growth that starts on the sclera but can grow into the peripheral cornea and cause irritation, vision problems and disfigurement of the front of the eye.

Dry Eyes Though the cause of dry eyes typically begins in the tears gland and eyelids, it can lead to damage of the corneal epithelium, which causes eye discomfort and vision disturbances.

Thease days increased screen time on computer and mobile is also a major reason behind dry eye problem; also known as computer vision Syndrome .

Corneal ulcer A corneal ulcer is a serious abscess-like infection of the cornea that can lead to significant pain, scarring and vision loss.

Corneal dystrophy A dystrophy is a weakening or degeneration of a tissue. The most common corneal dystrophy — called Fuch's dystrophy — affects the corneal endothelium, causing corneal swelling, foggy vision, light sensitivity and other problems.

Acanthamoeba keratitis This is a very serious and painful corneal infection that can cause significant pain and vision loss.

Fungal keratitis Fungal keratitis is another dangerous corneal infection that (like Acanthamoeba keratitis) tends to affect contact lens wearers more often than people who wear glasses

Keratoconus This is a thinning and deformation of the cornea that causes vision problems that can't be corrected with regular eyeglasses or contact lenses. In some cases, vision problems from keratoconus can be corrected with scleral contact lenses or hybrid contacts. But in severe cases, a cornea transplant may be required.

Corneal ectasia This is thinning and deformation of the cornea that resembles keratoconus but occurs as a rare complication of LASIK or other corneal refractive surgery.

Corneal Topography

Corneal Topography is a diagnostic technique that provides a detailed mapping of the curvature and shape of the cornea, the transparent front surface of the eye. By employing advanced imaging technology, corneal topography generates a three-dimensional representation of the cornea, allowing eye care professionals to analyze its contours and detect irregularities. This invaluable tool aids in the diagnosis and management of various eye conditions, including astigmatism, keratoconus, and other corneal abnormalities. With its ability to offer precise measurements and visualizations, corneal topography plays a crucial role in guiding decisions related to refractive surgeries, contact lens fittings, and the overall assessment of corneal health, contributing to enhanced eye care and improved vision outcomes.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technology that revolutionizes the way we visualize and understand eye structures. By employing light waves to capture high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina, OCT enables precise assessments of ocular tissues. This advanced diagnostic tool is instrumental in detecting and monitoring various eye conditions, including macular degeneration and glaucoma. Its ability to provide detailed, real-time images assists eye care professionals in early diagnosis and effective management, contributing significantly to the preservation of vision and overall eye health.

Perimetry

Perimetry or a Visual Field Test is a diagnostic test that assesses the visual field of an individual, measuring their ability to perceive stimuli at various points in their field of vision. Typically used in the evaluation of conditions like glaucoma or neurological disorders, perimetry involves the presentation of lights or objects at different intensities and locations within the visual field. The patient responds to these stimuli, and the results help eye care professionals map and analyze any abnormalities or defects in the visual field. This test plays a crucial role in diagnosing and managing conditions that impact peripheral vision, guiding effective treatment strategies for optimal eye care.

Types Of Keratoplasty Procedures

Keratoplasty is a relatively low-risk surgical procedure. It is the most common type of transplant surgery currently performed and has the highest rate of success. There are several different corneal transplant methods available to help restore vision in patients with corneal problems.

Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (C3R)

EKeratoconus is a disease in which cornea starts expanding into a conical shape. This eye syndrome is progressive and can’t be reversed. When diagnosed early, C3R therapy helps in stabilizing it and in advanced stages, corneal transplantation techniques are helpful. This minimally invasive process enhances corneal strength by inducing crosslinking of collagen fibres. C3R helps in stabilizing keratoconus in early stage and prevents further progression of disease and need of corneal transplantation.

Corneal Transplant Surgery
  1. Penetrating Keratoplasty
    • Penetrating keratoplasty is the traditional method used for corneal transplantation where the central two-thirds of the damaged cornea is surgically removed and replaced with a healthy cornea from a human donor.
  2. Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty
    • Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, also known as DALK, removes only the outermost layers of the cornea, while preserving the healthy, well-functioning inner layers, known as Descemet’s membrane and the endothelium. New laser technology used in a DALK procedure reduces the likelihood of scarring or irregularities in shape that might impair vision.
  3. Endothelial Keratoplasty
    • Endothelial keratoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes the abnormal inner lining of the cornea, known as the endothelium. DSAEK, DSEK and DMEK are several types of endothelial keratoplasty. It requires much smaller incisions than a penetrating keratoplasty, resulting in fewer risks and a shorter recovery time.
    • Corneal transplants are usually performed with patients under local anaesthesia. While there is some chance of graft rejection or the failure of donor tissue to attach properly to the patient’s own tissue, in the less invasive procedures, this risk is greatly reduced. In these less invasive, shorter surgeries, there is also less scarring and a shorter recovery period.

Frequently Asked Questions

The overall success rate of a corneal transplant is very high using modern eye banking and surgical techniques. However, there are many factors that influence the outcome. For instance, keratoconus has one of the best prognoses for good vision with a greater than 90% chance of a clear graft.

No, your eye color stays exactly the same. The transplant involves only the transparent clear cornea and not the colored part of the eye (iris)

Cornea transplant is a relatively safe procedure. Still, it does carry a small risk of serious complications, such as: eye infection, increased risk of clouding of the eye's lens (cataract) etc.

After surgery, the stitches usually stay in place for about 2 to 3 months, and then are slowly removed over many months as your cornea heals. You will probably be able to return to work or your normal routine in about 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. But your vision will still be blurry

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. After your cornea transplant has fully healed, it's possible to undergo LASIK eye surgery to improve your vision

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