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Corneal transplant - Recovery

Alternative Names

Keratoplasty; Penetrating keratoplasty

After the Procedure:

You will go home on the same day as your surgery. Your doctor will give you an eye patch to wear for about 1 to 4 days.

Your doctor will prescribe eye drops to help your eye heal and prevent infection and rejection.

Your doctor will remove the stitches at a follow-up visit. Some stitches may remain in place for as long as a year.

Outlook (Prognosis):

Full recovery of eyesight may take up to a year. Most patients who have successful corneal transplants will enjoy good vision for many years. But, if you have other eye problems, those problems may still reduce your eyesight.

Often glasses or contact lenses may be needed to achieve the best vision. Laser vision correction may be an option if there is nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism present after the transplant has fully healed.

Newer cornea transplant techniques usually have faster recovery times and fewer complications.

  • Reviewed last on: 7/28/2010
  • Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Blackmon S, Semchyshyn T, Kim T. Penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane’s Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 26.

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