The cornea is the transparent layer in front of the eye that is located right in front of the iris (the colored part of the eye) and allows light to enter the eye; Another and important task of the cornea is to change the path of light so that the images of near and far objects are focused on the retina. Corneal transplant or “keratoplasty” refers to a procedure in which the damaged cornea is replaced with a clear cornea.

Reasons for performing a corneal transplant

-Corneal transplantation is performed in the following cases:

– Creating better vision in cases where corneal opacity has caused blurred vision.

– Corneal hole repair to protect the internal structure of the eyeball

– Treatment of eye pain in cases where there is severe pain due to corneal disease or swelling.

-Eradicating the infection in cases where the corneal infection is not treated with medicine.

Patients in need of cornea transplant surgery

– Corneal swelling after cataract surgery

– Patients with keratoconus

– People with opacity or corneal stain (which is usually caused by frequent eye herpes infection or microbial infections.)

– People with chemical burns of the cornea

– Those who are affected by corneal opacity or edema due to hereditary diseases.

Problems and complications of corneal transplantation

One of the most common side effects of a corneal transplant that has a significant impact on the visual system is the development of astigmatism, which is usually improved by removing the stitches and using glasses or contact lenses.

Another complication of corneal transplant is transplant rejection, which if not treated on time, will cause the transplanted cornea to become cloudy. Transplant rejection occurs when the patient’s immune system identifies the transplanted cornea as foreign tissue and tries to destroy it. This condition can start from two weeks after the transplant, but in most cases it happens several months after the corneal transplant. If the graft rejection is detected early, it will be controlled by frequent use of steroid drops and sometimes by using oral pills or injecting medicine around the eyes, but in certain cases, this complication may not be controlled by medicine; In such a situation, re-transplantation should be performed, the success rate of which is lower than the initial transplant. For this reason, it is recommended to see an ophthalmologist within 24 hours if any of the following symptoms occur in the eye that has a transplanted cornea:

Severe redness of the eye or around the cornea

sensitivity to light

the pain

Abnormal tears

blurred vision

Foreign body sensation in the eye (which can be caused by loose or torn stitches)

Other complications of corneal transplantation are not very common, but it should be noted that there is a possibility of complications such as intraocular bleeding, infection, cataract, glaucoma, recurrence of previous disease in the transplanted cornea, and retinal tear.