What can I expect after a corneal transplant?

Your cornea was replaced with a healthy cornea from a person who has died. After the transplant, you will need to wear an eye patch for about a day. Then you will need to wear a clear eye shield or glasses to protect your eye until it has healed. Your eye may feel irritated or scratchy for a few days after surgery.

When does vision improved after corneal transplant?

Your vision may be blurry for a period of time after surgery. For some people, it may take 6 to 12 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible. Your doctor will give you eyedrops to help your eye heal and prevent your body from rejecting the donor tissue.

Can corneal transplant be repeated?

A corneal transplant can be repeated, usually with good results. However, the overall rejection rates for repeated transplants are slightly higher than for the first transplant.

What happens if a corneal transplant is rejected?

This reaction, known as corneal transplant rejection, can usually be controlled if it is discovered early enough. A patient with a corneal transplant rejection may experience discomfort or pain in the eye, redness, blurred vision and watering.

How many stitches are in a cornea transplant?

This is the most invasive type of transplant since the entire cornea is replaced and 16-20 stitches may be required. As a result, the healing time can be as long as 6-12 months and the use of a contact lens might be required for the clearest vision.

Can you see 20/20 after corneal transplant?

“In most cases, traditional corneal transplant methods can only restore vision to 20/30, but with DMEK, patients can achieve perfect 20/20 vision with a recovery time as short as a few weeks.”

Will I still need glasses after cornea transplant?

Will glasses be an option, or will contact lenses still be needed? A small percentage of transplant patients do obtain uncorrected vision good enough that neither glasses nor contacts are needed after surgery, but in the majority of cases, some form of vision correction is needed after surgery.

How many years does a corneal transplant last?

As with all types of surgery, there is a risk of complications resulting from a cornea transplant. These can include the new cornea being rejected by the body, infection and further vision problems. Most cornea transplants are successful and will work without complications for at least 10 years.

What is the success rate of a cornea transplant?

Penetrating corneal graft survival was 91% at 1 year, 72% at 5 years and 69% at 7 years. The three most common indications for graft were keratoconus (30%), bullous keratopathy (25%) and failed previous graft (18%); the three most common causes of graft failure were rejection (34%), infection (18%) and glaucoma (9%).

How long is the recovery after a cornea transplant?

Generally speaking, it can take up to a year to fully recover from a corneal transplant. However, most people are back to their normal routines within one to two weeks with the exception of heavy lifting. It’s advised to wait at least four weeks before doing any heavy lifting, or longer if your doctor advises it.

How long before you can drive after corneal transplant?

You must not drive on the day of your cornea transplant. Someone must drive you home after surgery and bring you back for your follow-up visit. If you have good vision in the non-transplant eye, you can legally drive 24 hours after surgery. However, your surgeon may recommend waiting longer before driving.