During
surgery, the damaged cornea is removed, and a clear
donor cornea is sewn into place.
Before
a cornea is released for transplantation, the eye bank
tests the human donor for the viruses that cause hepatitis
and AIDS. The cornea is carefully checked for clarity.
Surgery
often is done on an outpatient basis. You may be asked
to skip breakfast, depending on the time of surgery.
If your surgery is done on an inpatient basis, you may
be in the hospital for one day to five days. Whether
you have inpatient or outpatient surgery, you should
expect to take it easy for approximately one month following
surgery.
As
an outpatient, you may come in ahead of time to have
pre-surgery work including an electrocardiogram, chest
X-ray and anesthesia consultation.
On
the day you arrive for surgery, you will be given eye
drops and sometimes medications to help you relax. The
operation is painless. Anesthesia is either local or
general, depending on your age, medical condition and
eye disease. You will not see the surgery while it is
happening, and you will not have to worry about keeping
your eye open or closed.
In
the operation, the eyelids are gently opened. Looking
through a surgical microscope, the ophthalmologist measures
the eye for the size for the corneal transplant. The
diseased or injured cornea is carefully removed from
the eye. Any necessary additional work within the eye,
such as removal of a cataract, is completed. Then the
clear donor cornea is sewn into place using tiny stitches
of about one-third the diameter of a human hair.
When
the operation is over, the ophthalmologist usually will
place a shield over your eye. You will have a gauze
patch placed on your eye first to keep the eyelid closed.
Then, two eye pads are put in place. Tape is used to
hold the pads firmly in place. In addition, a perforated
rigid shield also may be taped on top of the patch to
protect the eye from being hit or rubbed.
Transplant
Steps and Work-Up
A successful
corneal transplantation requires care and attention
on the part of both patient and physician. Any candidate
for corneal transplant should carefully read and understand
all the steps we describe in this section. And, as always,
feel free to discuss your concerns with the ophthalmologist
or nurse.
A corneal transplant is
needed if vision cannot be corrected satisfactorily,
or if painful swelling cannot be relieved by medications
or special contact lenses. Your ophthalmologist may
request that you have a physical examination and other
special tests.
Waiting
If you decide
to have a corneal transplantation, there is no waiting
time. A request is put in to the eye bank, and your
surgery is scheduled.
Related
Links
Transplantation
Services
Cornea
Transplantation
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