The cornea is the outer most portion of the eye which helps you see clearly. Made up of five layers, the cornea is quite strong and serves as the eye’s first defense against damage to the rest of the eye. While durable, the cornea is highly sensitive and susceptible to injury and diseases like keratoconus. While the cornea can repair itself after many injuries and diseases without surgery, those left untreated or more traumatic corneal injuries can lead to the need for a corneal transplant.
Typically, surgery is reserved for those suffering from severe corneal scarring, Fuchs’ Dystrophy and as a form of keratoconus treatment. Corneal transplants are considered when all other options have been exhausted, and eyeglasses and contact lenses are no longer a viable way to correct vision. While a last resort, however, corneal transplants are frequently performed in the United States with estimates of about 50,000 performed each year according to the National Eye Institute. The chances of success for this operation have risen dramatically because of technological advances. Corneal transplantation has restored sight to many, who a generation ago would have been blinded permanently by corneal eye disease, injury, infection, or inherited disease or degeneration.
Generally, patients are unaware of what is impacting their vision until they meet with their eye doctor who then refers them to a specialist. Wolfe Eye Clinic cornea specialists are frequently referred to by optometrists across Iowa for our corneal eye disease expertise and premier care. In 1960, Wolfe Eye Clinic surgeons began performing corneal transplants which had previously been performed exclusively in University settings. Having performed thousands of corneal transplant surgeries, Wolfe Eye Clinic cornea specialists are experts in restoring vision. While the thought of corneal transplant surgery can be overwhelming, your Wolfe Eye Clinic cornea surgeon and our experienced teams are with you every step of the way.
In corneal transplant surgery, the cornea surgeon removes a portion of the cornea and replaces it with a clear, healthy cornea, donated through an eye bank. Wolfe Eye Clinic works closely with Iowa Lions Eye Bank to receive preserved healthy corneas that were graciously donated post-mortem by deceased individuals registered as organ donors. There are three main types of corneal transplants differentiated by how many of the cornea’s five layers need to be transplanted: penetrating keratoplasty (full thickness), lamellar keratoplasty (outer layers) and endothelial keratoplasty (inner layers).
During corneal transplant surgery, anesthesia is used and patients are given topical eye drops to help increase comfort. Corneal transplant surgeries are performed at Wolfe Eye Clinic’s Des Moines and Hiawatha (Cedar Rapids) surgical centers on an out-patient basis, meaning you are not required to stay overnight at our facilities. Following surgery, pain is usually mild for the first week and patients’ vision may be blurry for a period of time. The length of time it takes to see an improvement in vision and fully recover from a corneal transplant depends on the type of corneal transplant surgery performed. This can range from one month to one year. Common side effects that patients report after surgery are a foreign body sensation, scratchiness and blurriness. Your cornea specialist at Wolfe Eye Clinic will be there for you with any questions you may have about your recovery.
As technology has advanced, the success of corneal transplants has as well. There are still significant risks, but the risk of complications varies depending on how many layers of the cornea are transplanted. Complications can include the body rejecting the donor corneal tissue (cornea graft rejection), eye infection, and problems associated with the use of sutures.
Fortunately, cornea graft rejection is a rare event, especially with endothelial keratoplasty. Transplant rejection occurs when the body’s immune system detects the donor cornea as a foreign body and reacts to it. Rejection signs may occur as early as one month or as late as several years after surgery. The surgeon will prescribe medication that can help prevent the rejection process. Should a transplant fail, corneal transplant surgery can be repeated.
Wolfe Eye Clinic corneal specialists treat corneal injuries and corneal diseases throughout Iowa, including Ankeny, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Hiawatha (Cedar Rapids), Iowa City, Marshalltown, Ottumwa and Pleasant Hill. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our corneal disease specialists, give us a call at (833) 474-5850.
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