We Pursue Eye Research
Corneal Transplants
Transplants Overview
A corneal transplant involves replacing a cloudy cornea with a clear donor cornea. The cornea is the clear part in the front of the eye - the window of the eye. It allows light to pass through to come to focus on the retina. The cornea must remain clear to provide good vision. Disease, degeneration or scarring from an injury can all cause the cornea to become cloudy and result in decreased vision. If visual decrease is significant, a corneal transplant may be necessary.
Dr. Edward Zirm performed the first successful human corneal transplant was performed in 1905 in the present day Czech Republic, and the transplant lasted the remainder of the patient’s life. Since then, there have been many new developments in corneal transplantation.
We were recently invited to reflect on how transplants have changed in the last 25 years and speculate on what lies ahead. Some of the big improvements we’ve seen are:
- new targeted transplant methods that preserve healthy areas of the cornea
- use of lasers to create interlocking incisions
- new eye drops to reduce inflammation, prevent rejection, and treat glaucoma
If you’d like to learn more about the changes we’ve seen and what lies ahead, please click here.
The Donor Cornea
The donor cornea comes from individuals who have donated their eyes for the benefit of others. The donor is carefully screened for many infections and diseases including hepatitis, syphilis and AIDS. An eye bank network is used to obtain a donor cornea and ensure the safe use of the tissue.
