What is a corneal transplant?
A corneal transplant is an operation in which a patient receives the cornea from a dead donor. The cornea forms the outer layer of the eye and is about 550 microns thick. It makes an important contribution to the ability to see. Opacities, such as those that occur after severe corneal inflammation or injury, as well as abnormal bulges, can therefore lead to vision loss. To restore the function of the eye, the patient needs a corneal transplant.
What is done during a corneal transplant?
Once the ophthalmologist has determined the need for a corneal transplant, a suitable transplant is sought in a so-called cornea bank at eye clinics. However, not every patient gets a transplant immediately, because the demand clearly exceeds the supply.
Further development of the classic corneal transplantation
Corneal transplants have been around since 1905. In most cases, a transplanted cornea is not as perfectly formed as the patient’s natural one. Therefore, since the 1990s, ophthalmologists (eye doctors) have been researching to separate and transplant only the innermost two (the endothelium and Descemet’s membrane) of the cornea, which consists of five layers. These two layers are only ten micrometers thick and can be cut exactly to the size of the area to be transplanted. This further development of classical corneal transplantation is called DMEK transplantation.
While a visual acuity of about 30 percent can be achieved with the classic procedure, it is about 80 percent with DMEK transplantation.
What are the risks of corneal transplantation?
What should I pay attention to after a corneal transplant?
Watch out for symptoms such as eye watering, redness and restricted vision and inform your doctor as soon as possible of any complaints that occur. Also, avoid mechanical irritation of the eye, for example by rubbing. It is also important that you attend regular check-ups with your ophthalmologist. If the corneal transplantation results in complications, these can be detected and treated as quickly as possible.
