Cornea Surgery in Fetri
The clear, dome-shaped cornea protects the eyes against dirt, germs, other particles, and damaging UV light. The cornea, working together with the lens of the eye, focus light that enters the eye so that vision can be clear.
The cornea is made up of three main layers of tissue, with two thinner layers of membrane between them.
If you have a damaged cornea, you may experience symptoms including:
- Eye pain
- Blurred vision
- Cloudy vision
Your ophthalmologist will determine the cause and other possible treatments that may resolve these symptoms. If your cornea cannot be repaired using other methods, your surgeon may recommend a cornea transplant.
Your surgeon will recommend one of three surgical options for cornea transplant. The method your surgeon chooses depends on the cause of the damage to the cornea, the condition of your cornea, and your unique needs. In some cases, a corneal transplant may not improve your vision, and your surgeon may recommend against surgery.
Regardless of the type of transplant you receive, your new cornea will come from a deceased human organ donor. Every donor cornea undergoes thorough testing to make sure it is safe for transplant. The cornea is made up of three layers of tissue. Each surgical option focuses on a specific layer or layers.
One of the most concerning complications of cornea transplant is organ (cornea) rejection. Rejection means your body’s immune system identifies the donated cornea as foreign and tries to fight off the transplant. You will take eye drops for at least a year following surgery to reduce the risk of rejection.
Risk of rejection varies based on the surgical technique used and on the condition of your eye.
- Fluid leakage from your cornea
- Detached retina (tissue lining the back of the eye pulls away from the eye)
- Visual acuity problems (sharpness of the vision) caused by an irregular curve in the shape of the cornea
- Detachment of the corneal transplant (for the endothelial transplant which is held in place by an air bubble)