Cornea transplant - Risks of a cornea transplant
- Introduction
- Why cornea transplants are used
- How cornea transplants are performed
- Risks of a cornea transplant
- After cornea transplant surgery
- 'It was fantastic being able to see again. It was magical'
- 'When the stitches came out, it was an absolute miracle'
As with all types of surgery, there are several risks and possible complications involved with having a cornea transplant.
Some problems are obvious soon after surgery and need emergency treatment. Others may be spotted during follow-up appointments.
Rejection
Rejection happens when your immune system recognises the donated cornea as a foreign body and attacks it. It is quite a common problem, occurring in about one in five corneal transplants.
Rejection can occur a few weeks after a cornea transplant, but it's more common after several months. The problem can often be treated effectively with steroid eye drops if treatment begins as soon as you notice symptoms.
You should seek emergency specialist advice if you notice the symptoms listed below after having a cornea transplant:
- red eye
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- vision problems, particularly foggy or clouded vision
- eye pain
Other complications
As well as rejection, there is a risk of further problems after cornea transplant surgery. These can include:
- astigmatism – where the cornea is not a perfectly curved shape
- glaucoma – where pressure builds up in the eye as a result of trapped fluid
- uveitis – inflammation of the middle layer of the eye
- retinal detachment – where the thin lining at the back of your eye called the retina begins to pull away from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients
- the original eye disease (such as keratoconus) returning
- wounds from surgery reopening
- internal infection as a result of surgery wounds
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