What is corneal transplant (full thickness)?

A full thickness corneal transplant is done to remove a diseased, infected, or scarred cornea. It's replaced with a healthy cornea from a person who has died. The cornea is the clear surface that covers the front of the eye.

In most cases, you will be awake during the surgery. The doctor will put medicine in your eye to numb it. You may also get medicine to help you relax. Or you may get it to make you sleep during the surgery.

Surgical tools are used to keep your eye open. You may feel some pressure in your eye. The doctor makes a small cut (incision) in your cornea. Then your cornea is removed. The doctor puts the new cornea over your eye and sews it into place. You will usually need to visit your doctor to have the stitches removed. The stitches may be removed all at once, or they may be slowly removed over months or years.

This transplant takes about 1 hour. Most people go home on the day of the surgery.

After surgery, you will need to wear an eye patch for about a day. Then you will need to wear a clear eye shield or glasses to protect your eye. You'll use this until the eye has healed.

Ask your doctor when you will be able to return to work and your normal routine.

Activity

• Ask your doctor when it is okay to drive.
• Wear your eye bandage, patch, or shield for as long as your doctor recommends.
• You can shower or wash your hair the day after surgery. Keep water, soap, shampoo, hair spray or hair dyes, and shaving lotion out of your eye.
• Do not rub or put pressure on your eye.
• Do not wear eye makeup until your doctor says it's okay. You may also want to avoid face cream or lotion.
• Avoid heavy lifting for about 3 to 4 weeks, or until your doctor says it is okay.
• Avoid swimming, hot tubs, gardening, and dusting for about 3 to 4 weeks.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. He or she will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Follow your doctor's instructions for when to use your eyedrops. Always wash your hands before you put drops in. To put in eyedrops:
  • Tilt your head back, and pull your lower eyelid down with one finger.
  • Drop or squirt the medicine inside the lower lid.
  • Close your eye for 30 to 60 seconds to let the drops or ointment move around.
  • Do not touch the ointment or dropper tip to your eyelashes or any other surface.
• If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.

Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your surgery. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the surgery and how soon to do it.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

You had a full thickness corneal transplant. It was done to remove a diseased, infected, or scarred cornea. Your cornea was replaced with a healthy cornea from a person who has died.

After the transplant, you will need to wear an eye patch for about a day. Then you will need to wear a clear eye shield or glasses to protect your eye until it has healed.

Your eye may feel irritated or scratchy for a few days after surgery. But it's important not to rub your eye. Rubbing your eye could damage it. Your vision may be blurry for a period of time after surgery. For some people, it can take a long time to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible. It may take many months, and even up to a year.

Your doctor will give you eyedrops to help your eye heal and prevent your body from rejecting the donor cornea. Use the drops exactly as directed. You will need to see your doctor often to have your vision checked. And you'll probably need to see your doctor to have the stitches removed. The stitches may be removed all at once, or they may be slowly removed over months or years.

Ask your doctor when you will be able to go back to work and your normal routine.

• Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, take them with only a sip of water.
• Your surgery may be canceled if you have an eye infection, your eye is swollen, or there are problems with the donor cornea.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about when to bathe or shower before your surgery. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
• Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

At the hospital or surgery center

• Bring a picture ID.
• The area for surgery is often marked to make sure there are no errors.
• You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. You may get medicine that relaxes you or puts you in a light sleep. The area being worked on will be numb.
• The surgery takes about 1 hour.