Corneal transplants are also known by another name and that is corneal grafting. It is a surgical procedure that is done on the human eye. What this surgical procedure entails is this. It mainly involves surgery done to the cornea of the eye that is damaged or diseased. The damaged or diseased cornea is removed and is replaced with donated corneal tissue that is called the graft. If the entire cornea of the eye is replaced, it is called penetrating keratoplasty, and if only a portion of the cornea is replaced it is known as being lamellar keratoplasty. The word keratoplasty only refers to the surgery to the cornea that is performed. The graft that is used to replace the damaged or diseased cornea is taken from someone who has recently died and had no known diseases or other factors that may affect the chances of survival of the donated tissue or the health of the recipient of it in any way.

What do these transplants do other than just replace a bad cornea in the eye or eyes?

Corneal transplants are transplants that will do more than just replace an existing cornea that is damaged or diseased in some way. What it does is to help restore vision, lessen pain, and help to improve the appearance of any cornea that is damaged or diseased.

Is this eye surgery successful and what are the risks attached to them?

They are usually something that is very successful in a number of cases. However, they do indeed carry a small risk along with them, and these risks are complications. Some of the complications that go along with this type of eye transplant do include rejection of the donor cornea by the recipient’s body as just one example of the complications that are possible with this type of surgery. Some other complications can be eye infection, a risk of developing glaucoma, cataracts, problem with the stitches that hold the cornea graft in place, and swelling of the cornea.

These transplants can also be done for reasons other than just helping to restore vision.

What are some of these other reasons?

In most cases, corneal transplants are done surgically to help return vision to a patient, who has lost their sight due to a damaged or diseased cornea. It can also be used as a means to relieve pain or other signs and symptoms that are caused from diseases of the cornea itself.

There are a number of conditions that can be treated with this procedure overall. They are as follows:

*A condition called Keratoconus. Keratoconus is caused from having a cornea that is bulging outwards.

*A condition called Fuchs’ Dystrophy. Fuchs’ Dystrophy is caused by a thinning of the cornea.

*The scarring of the cornea that can from any injury to the cornea and or infection.

*A swelling of the cornea itself.

*A clouding of the cornea in any way.

*Any form of existing complications that were the result of a previous eye surgery.

*Any corneal ulcers that are brought on as the result of an existing infection.