Carol knows firsthand the power of a cornea transplant. “I had a genetic disease called Fuch’s Dystrophy which allows water to enter the corneas and vision becomes like looking through condensation on a glass,” she said. “I am the recipient of two donor corneas and my life would have been quite different without them! I have had great results and live a normal life thanks to corneal transplantation.”
What is corneal transplantation and how does it work?
Corneal transplantation, or corneal grafting, is a common surgical procedure that can restore or significantly improve vision in patients with damaged or diseased corneas.
The cornea, a clear, dome-shaped surface covering the front of the eye, plays a critical role in focusing vision. When the cornea becomes damaged or scarred due to injury, infection, or diseases, it can lose transparency, leading to blurry or reduced vision. Corneal transplantation replaces all or part of the damaged cornea with a healthy one from a donor.
How do you know if you need a cornea transplant?
Not everyone with corneal issues will need a transplant, but it may be recommended if your cornea is significantly damaged, scarred, or diseased, causing severe vision problems that don’t respond to other treatments. Conditions that might require a corneal transplant include:
- Advanced keratoconus
- Keratitis
- Corneal dystrophy
- Corneal scarring from infection or injury
- Corneal swelling that hasn’t improved with medication
- Complications from cataract surgery or other eye surgery
- Previous eye trauma or injury
Procedure and recovery
Corneal transplants are usually done on an outpatient basis. During the surgery, which typically lasts 1-2 hours, a surgeon carefully removes the damaged cornea and replaces it with the donor tissue, which is secured with sutures that may remain in place for months to a year as the eye heals.
Recovery from corneal transplantation varies by procedure type, but most patients experience improved vision within several months. Most recipients see significant improvements in their vision, although some may need additional glasses or contacts to refine their sight. Successful corneal transplantation helps recipients to regain clarity and comfort in their vision, allowing them to return to everyday activities.
Celebrating cornea transplantation and donors
Eye and cornea donations are essential for corneal transplant surgeries, restoring vision and quality of life for recipients. Almost anyone can be a cornea donor, regardless of vision, age, or past ocular health issues such as cataracts or laser vision correction.
Even people who are ineligible to donate organs because of their health history can usually donate tissues and corneas – which is good news, because the need for these gifts is great. The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) reports there are 12 million cornea-blind individuals worldwide and eye banks provide tissue for more than 85,000 sight-restoring corneal transplants each year.
By registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor, you can provide hope to the more than 100,000 people awaiting lifesaving organ transplants and the hundreds of thousands more in need of corneal and tissue transplants. Sign up for the donor registry and increase the chance that patients waiting will get the transplants they need to see – and survive.