Corneal
Transplants

Corneal transplants replace all or part of a damaged cornea with healthy tissue from a donor. There are different types of corneal transplants, depending on the areas of the cornea that need to be replaced. A corneal transplant is often referred to as keratoplasty or a corneal graft. This procedure can be used to improve vision, relieve pain and treat severe infections.

Conditions affecting the shape of the cornea include Keratoconus. The cornea instead of being round is shaped like cone and has considerable astigmatism. Fortunately the majority of patients with Keratoconus are able to see with glasses or contact lenses, however in their lifetime 15% are likely to become intolerant to lenses and may require surgery, either Intacs if suitable or a corneal transplant.

Conditions that affect the transparency of the cornea include Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy, a condition where the cells of the innermost layer (endothelium) become deficient and unable to remove fluid from the cornea. The cornea becomes swollen and loses clarity. Trauma, prior eye surgery and Herpes simplex viral disease can also affect corneal clarity through scarring and thinning.

Corneal transplantation involves removal of a portion of (partial or lamellar keratoplasty) or complete (full thickness or penetrating keratoplasty) removal of a cloudy or deformed cornea and replacement with a transplant donated by another human being at death.

Types of Transplantation Performed at Centre for Sight. You can learn more by clicking on the links below:

• ​Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK)
• Automated Lamellar Therapeutic Keratoplasty (ALTK). This technique removes a thin layer of the front of the cornea that might be irregular or scarred. A thin graft is created with the same device and stitched onto the surface. The technique has the advantage of rapid visual recovery. It is very useful in those with Reiss-Buckler’s corneal dystrophy and scarring from photorefractive keratectomy.
• Femtosecond Deep Lamellar Keratoplasty (FSDALK)
• Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK)
• Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK)
• Femtosecond Penetrating Keratoplasty (FSPK)
• Ex-vivo Stem Cell Transplant

Author Information

Authored by Sheraz Daya MD FACP FACS FRCS(Ed) FRCOphth, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon & Medical Director, June 2019.

Next review due June 2024.

Surgeons

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