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How you prepare
By Mayo Clinic staffBefore cornea transplant surgery, you will undergo:
- A thorough eye exam. Your eye doctor looks for conditions that may cause complications after surgery.
- Measurements of your eye. Your eye doctor determines what size donor cornea you need.
- A review of all medications and supplements you're taking. You may need to stop taking certain medications or supplements before or after your cornea transplant.
- Treatment for other eye problems. Unrelated eye problems, such as infection or inflammation, may reduce your chances of successful cornea transplant, so your eye doctor will work to treat those problems before your surgery.
Finding a donor cornea
Most corneas used in cornea transplants come from deceased donors. Unlike with other organs, such as livers and kidneys, people needing cornea transplants generally don't have to endure long waits. That's because nearly all people can donate their corneas after they die, so more corneas are available for transplant compared with other organs.
References
- Facts about the cornea and corneal disease. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdisease/. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
- Krachmer JH, et al. Cornea. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2005:1413.
- Learn the facts. Eye Bank Association of America. http://www.restoresight.org/donation/learnthefacts. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
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