Do you suffer from severe eye pain or poor vision due to a diseased or cloudy cornea? When the cornea becomes cloudy, light rays are unable to reach the light-sensitive retina, leading to reduced vision. Undergoing a corneal transplant to replace a damaged cornea can be an effective means of restoring your vision.

Dr Anshu Arundhati, Senior Consultant from the Department of Corneal and External Eye Disease at Singapore National Eye Centre, gives detailed answers to your questions. 


Question by mosmos

Hi Dr, Will there be any possibility of side effects or body's immune system rejection after corneal transplant?

Answered by Dr Anshu Arundhati, Consultant, Corneal & External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre

Compared to other transplants, risk of graft rejection is lower following a corneal transplant and so routinely, one is not required to take anti-rejection tablets. However low dose steroid eyedrops are usually needed to reduce the incidence of graft rejection. The risk of corneal graft rejection ranges from <1% to 20% depending on the type of corneal transplant procedure.


Question by octane

Dear Dr Anshu Arundhati, How long is the average period for visual recovery after corneal transplant? Is the visual recovery 100% or will there still be any poor visual after the transplant?

Answered by Dr Anshu Arundhati, Consultant, Corneal & External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre

Average time for visual recovery ranges from 3-6 months and sometimes upto a year or more. Several factors can afect visual recovery and include the type of corneal transplant procedure, presence or absence of sutures as well as the health of your retina and optic nerve. If one has a healthy retina and optic nerve, one is likely to recover good vision after a corneal transplant. Glasses are usually needed for better vision and sometimes contact lenses may also bee needed especially if you have signficant astigmatism.


Question by kuaen

I have been old I am suffering from Fuch's Dystrophy. When is a corneal transplant necessary?

Answered by Dr Anshu Arundhati, Consultant, Corneal & External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre

Corneal transplant for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy is recommended when the cornea becomes swollen and affects vision. You would need to have an eye assessment to determine if you would benefit from surgery.


Question by sbdtys

Cornea dystrophy with scaring at retina be suitable for cornea transplant ?

Is cornea transplant safe, success rate and what are the risks?

How long does it take to recover to be able to see normally?

Roger

Answered by Dr Anshu Arundhati, Consultant, Corneal & External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre

If you have visually signficant corneal dystrophy you might benefit from a corneal transplant. However, your retinal scarring needs to be assessed before considering corneal surgery. If the retinal scar affects your vision, then doing a corneal transplant may limit your visual recovery.

There are several types of corneal transplant procedures that are available today and the type most suitable for you would require an eye assessment. Over all, corneal graft survival rate at 1 year is more than 90%. Visual recovery depends on several factors: type of corneal transplant, any co-exisiting retinal or optic nerve problems; generally speaking it takes 3-6 months for vision to improve and sometimes upto a year or more.

Any eye surgery has the risk of infection and following corneal transplant, there is the additional risk of graft rejection, glaucoma and graft failure.


Question by sbdtys

Dear Doc, I have been suffering from cornea abrasion a year ago and constantly pain. If the situation not getting any better, do you think I would need to undergo corneal transplant ?

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Answered by Dr Anshu Arundhati, Consultant, Corneal & External Eye Disease, Singapore National Eye Centre

From your history, it seems like you are having episodes of recurrent corneal erosions (RCE). Most cases of corneal erosions can be treated medically with eyedrops and eye ointment. If the problem persists despite the use of topical medications , you may benefit from a laser procedure called PTK to improve your symptoms and to stabilze your cornea. Corneal transplant is not necessary if it is an RCE. However, you need to have an eye assessment to determine the cause of your problem.


Ref: S13 ​​