Frequently Asked Questions
on Corneal Transplants
What part of the eye is the cornea?
The cornea is the clear, living tissue on the outer portion of the eyeball. It is the front window of the eye. To perform properly, the cornea must be crystal clear and be of a proper curvature.
What is a corneal transplant?
This procedure refers to the replacement of a damaged cornea with an undamaged one. It is otherwise known as “keratoplasty”.
Why is cornea necessary?
• It allows the light to pass through the retina
• It provides the majority of the focusing power of the eye
• It filters certain wavelengths of light to protect the lens
and the retina from ultraviolet radiation
What causes the clouding of cornea?
• Eye injuries that leave a dense white scar
on the cornea (i.e. wounds from a sharp object, burns or chemical
contamination of the eye)
• Severe infection that leads to corneal scarring (may be due
to conjunctivitis, chicken pox, herpes, etc.)
• Abnormal shape of the cornea
• Corneal dystrophies (bulging of cornea as it thins; corneal
edema from excess fluid; amyloid deposits)
• Inherited diseases of the cornea
• Improper cataract or other eye surgery can prompt corneal
clouding
How is Corneal Transplant done?
Below is an illustration of what happens during a corneal transplant: