Cornea Is An External Transparent, Convex Layer Of The Eye. It Is The Part Of The Eye From Where Light Shafts Enter The Eye. Conditions Of The Cornea Which Reduce The Translucency Of The Cornea Hamper Vision. It Is Responsible For Maturity Of Refractive Power Of The Eye. Colorful Conditions Of Eye Can Damage The Cornea. In Numerous Corneal Conditions, Corneal Transplant Is Needed. In Corneal Transplant, Case’s Diseased Cornea Is Replaced By Donor’s Healthy Cornea Attained from the Eye Bank. Corneal Transplant Is The Utmost Successful Organ Transplant In Humans.

Types of Corneal Transplant

Full- consistence (Piercing) Keratoplasty is used for numerous conditions that affect multiple layers of the cornea. In this, the entire cornea is replaced by the entire cornea of the case. Patron cornea is secured with the help of aches-16 or 24 depending upon the size of the graft.

Endothelial Transplants similar as Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK/ DMEK) are used to treat conditions affecting primarily the reverse sub caste of the cornea (Descemets membrane and Corneal endothelium) similar as Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and Bullous keratopathy. The advantage of this procedure is that it has lower chances of graft rejection and lower sutures are needed in the surgery. Post operative surgical presbyopia is also minimum.

Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) can be done for conditions similar as keratoconus and corneal stromal scar. In this case’s anterior corneal stroma is replaced by patron’s corneal stroma. It also has lower chances of rejection compared to piercing keratoplasty.

Suggestions of Corneal Transplant

• Advanced keratoconus
• Fuchs ’dystrophy
• Corneal scar
• Cornea nebulosity
• Clouding of the cornea
• Corneal melt
• Non resolving Corneal ulcers
• Corneal trauma

Cornea Transplant Is A Fairly Safe Procedure. It Also Carries A Small Chance Of Postoperative Complications

• Eye infection or graft infection
• Cataract conformation
• Intraocular pressure rise or glaucoma
• Rejection of the patron cornea
• Graft dehiscence
• Utmost Care Is Needed After A Corneal Transplant.

What’s Graft Rejection?

Graft Rejection Is A Given Complication Of Corneal Transplant. As In Corneal Transplant Donor Cornea Is Used. Occasionally Cases’ Body Doesn’t Accept The Corneal Towel And Treats It As A Foreign Body And Tries To Get Rid Of It. Case’s Immune System Starts Working Against The Donor Cornea Which Results In Loss Of Translucency Of The Graft, Called As Graft Rejection. Numerous A Times If The Case Reports To The Treating Corneal Surgeon Beforehand, Corneal Graft Rejection Can Be Reversed With The Help Of Specifics. Some Cases Might Not Respond To The Medical Therapy And The Graft Ultimately Fails.

Signs of Graft Rejection of Infections are

• Greenishness
• Pain
• Sensitivity to light
• Vision loss

Graft Infection, Is It Common?

Graft Infection Is Not So Common If Post Operative Care Is Proper And Medicines Are Put Strictly. All The Post Operative Instructions Should Be Followed. Since Corneal Transplant Case Uses Steroid Eye Drops For Longer Duration, There Are Chances Of Getting A Fungal Infection. Diabetic Patient Also Has Advanced Chances Of Getting A Graft Infection In The Post Operative Period.

Post Operative Care

Like Any Other Transplant That The Mortal Body Undergoes, Corneal Transplant Also Requires Utmost Care. Many Important Effects To Keep In Mind Are

• Don’t splash water in the eyes
• Defensive eye spectacles to be used for 1 month
• Cover your eye from injury
• Avoid heavy exercises

Regular follow up with the croaker is a must

Post-Operative Medicines Will Be Specified By Your Cornea Surgeon And They Must Be Duly Followed To Attain Optimal Results. The Number And Duration Of Post-Operative Treatment Depends On The Reason For Transplant. For Example, A Case Witnessing Transplant For Corneal Infection Or Corneal Ulcer Will Bear Oral And Topical Antibiotics For Dragged Ages To Help And Rush Of Infection In The Graft. The Post-Operative Care Must Be Bandied In Detail With Your Cornea Surgeon.

Results

After Complete Healing Of Surgical Site, All The Sutures Are Removed. Opening Is Done In Multiple Sittings. Later Sew Junking, Spectacles Are Specified For Better Vision. Indeed After All The Sutures Have Been Removed, The Many Preventives Have To Be Followed For Increased Graft Survival. If We Look At The Visual Issues Of Corneal Transplant It Varies From Case To Case And Also Upon Pre-Operative Conditions And Suggestion For Surgery. Numerous A Times The Condition Of The Cornea Is Veritably Poor And In Those Cases Despite Of A Good Surgical Corneal Transplant Procedure The Issues Are Not So Good. Some Corneal Pathologies Are Notorious To Recur Like Viral Corneal Ulcers, Vascularized Corneas, Severe Dry Eye, Repeated Failed Graft. In These Cases Chances Of Graft Failure Is High. It Is Always A Better Idea To Bandy The Pros And Cons Of Corneal Transplant With The Corneal Surgeon. No One Can Prognosticate The Exact Outgrowth Of The Corneal Transplant Surgery But With The Advanced Ways And Better Technology The Issues Of Corneal Transplant Have Bettered Significantly.

The Cost Of Cornea Transplant Varies From Sanitarium To Sanitarium. For Performing Corneal Transplant, The Eye Surgeon Should Be Well Trained In Doing The Surgery And In Managing The Cases In Postoperative Period. It Is Veritably Important To Use Good Quality Cornea For Corneal Transplant. There Are Government Approved Eye Bank Which Supplies The Cornea To The HOTA Registered Hospitals And Also Maintain The Records Of Corneal Towel Utilisation. Cornea Should Be Duly Estimated For Its Quality And Used Consequently. The Blood Sample Of Donor Patient Should Also Be Checked By Eye Bank For Serology And Viral Labels. Donor Cornea Should Be Stored In Cornisol Medium To Avoid Damage To The Corneal Towel. Any Change In Colour Of The Bottle Containing Corneal Towel Should Be Discarded. Rotary Eye Hsopital Is Well Equipped, NABH Accredited Eye Hospital That Performs the Cornea Transplant. The Cornea Surgeons At Rotary Eye Hospital Are Especially Trained In Performing Corneal Transplant.