corneal transplant
Quick Summary
A corneal transplant is a surgical procedure where a piece of a transparent cornea from a donor eye is transplanted into a patient's eye to replace an opaque cornea. This procedure is performed to restore vision when the eye itself is otherwise normal, but the cornea has become clouded due to disease or injury.12
Corneal tissue can be viable for up to 12 hours after death, allowing for transplantation if the cornea is removed within this timeframe. Cooling can extend this viability, but prompt transplantation is ideal. A key factor in the success of corneal transplants is that the cornea lacks blood vessels. This prevents the rejection of the graft by the patient's immune system, as rejection factors are typically carried in the bloodstream. Rejection can occur if blood vessels grow into the transplanted cornea.2
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