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.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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