Although eye transplantation is referred to by this name among the public, it is actually the transplantation of only the cornea layer of the eye, and other structures of the eye are not transplanted. For this reason, it is referred to as "corneal transplantation" in medical language. Transplantation of the entire eye is not yet medically possible.
What is the cornea?
Cornea is the transparent tissue in front of the colored part of the eye. If the eye is compared to a clock, the cornea can be considered as the glass of the clock. This round tissue, approximately 1 cm in diameter, is thinner than 1 millimeter.
How is the cornea obtained?
The cornea is taken from the eye of a deceased person. After being examined for infectious diseases, healthy corneas are obtained. It is transplanted to patients waiting for a corneal transplant. Corneas can be collected within the first 8 hours after death. It can be kept in suitable solutions for up to 14 days. Except for eye banks that have ready-made corneas, patients are placed on a list to be called when a suitable cornea is available. When a suitable cornea is found, the patient called from the list is admitted to the hospital within 24-48 hours after being called for pre-operative analysis and is included in the surgery program.
What procedures are the corneas subjected to before transplantation?
Does not have a contagious disease? Corneas taken from donors (who have had a blood test) are transplanted only if they are found to be sufficient in terms of transparency (biomicroscopic and/or specular microscopic examination).
To whom is corneal transplantation performed?
Cornea transplantation is a treatment for cloudiness in the cornea. It is performed on people with decreased visual acuity. The most common diseases for which corneal transplantation is performed are keratoconus, bullous keratopathy, corneal dystrophies, and corneal cloudiness due to previous corneal inflammations and/or previous corneal injuries.
What type of anesthesia is performed in corneal transplant surgery?
Doctor Although the most frequently preferred type of anesthesia by patients is general anesthesia, these surgeries can also be performed successfully with local anesthesia.
Can the transplanted cornea be rejected by the body?
Yes, as in every transplant procedure. There is a risk of rejection reaction in corneal transplantation. However, due to the advantage of being a vascular tissue, the operation with the lowest rejection reaction among organ transplants is cornea transplant.
Who can undergo cornea transplant? If the vision is reduced or lost due to reasons not related to the cornea, corneal transplantation is not performed. For example, in severe retinal and optic nerve (visual nerve) diseases, advanced glaucoma (eye pressure disease) and severe eye injuries that cause shrinkage of the eye (phthisis bulbi), surgery is not performed because corneal transplantation cannot increase vision. In addition, an increase in vision is not expected in people who have not seen in the first 6 years of their lives, as they will have developed severe "lazy eye".
If the transplanted tissue (cornea) is rejected by our body, will we lose our sight completely?
Cornea Can the transplant be repeated?
When a rejection reaction occurs, the transplanted tissue (cornea) loses its transparency and vision decreases; However, even if the cornea is blurry, it remains in place and does not disappear. Therefore, no eye is lost due to rejection reaction. In case of rejection, corneal transplantation can be performed again.
How long should I use medication after corneal transplantation surgery? What kind of medications are used?
It is essential to use medication in decreasing doses for the first year after corneal transplantation. Usually only eye drops are used.
How long will I stay in the hospital after corneal transplant surgery?
This period varies for each patient. Recovery is slower in eyes that have vascularization in their corneas, have had previous eye surgeries, and have additional diseases. The average hospital stay for unproblematic cases is 4-5 days.
How often do I need to come for examination after corneal transplant surgery?
The frequency of control examinations gradually decreases and at first, more frequently. An average of 8-10 follow-up examinations are performed during the year.
After the corneal transplant surgery, when can I go to work or school?
People who do not work in dusty environments or do not engage in jobs that require heavy physical strength are 3 days after their surgery. Students can start their work after 2 weeks, and students can start school after 2 weeks. However, since everyone's wound healing and eye structure are different, your rest period may be changed by your doctor.
Do I need to wear glasses after cornea transplant?
Cornea transplant is what we do for patients who cannot see well enough with glasses or contact lenses. and eyes them It is a surgery that aims to make you see better with a lens or contact lens. Glasses are usually required.
Do the stitches in the cornea need to be removed? Is removing the stitches a painful procedure?
Unless the corneal stitches loosen, break, or cause high astigmatism due to tightness, they are left in place for approximately 1 year. They should be removed in a planned manner, as problems may arise due to their melting and breaking in the following period. Removing the stitches is a very comfortable, painless procedure that can be performed with drop anesthesia.
What should I pay attention to in my daily life after corneal transplantation?
First Bath: In the first week after corneal transplantation, only the area below the neck will be washed. You can take a bath this way. Unless your doctor informs you otherwise, normal bathing can be done after the first week control examination.
Reading Books-Newspapers - Watching Television: Your eyes will be kept closed with a bandage as you may have complaints such as stinging and watering in the first one or two days after the surgery. Two to three days after the surgery, complaints such as stinging and watering disappeared or decreased to an insignificant level. You can read books or newspapers or watch television as long as you are not uncomfortable.
Physical activities: In the first 1 month after the surgery, you should avoid lifting heavy loads (for example, 5 kg or more), work that requires excessive bending and standing (praying, heavy housework). (such as doing chores) and be careful to use the plastic eye protection cover while sleeping. Avoid exercises and moves that strain your abdominal muscles, be careful not to become constipated.
Glasses: Starting from the first month after the surgery, you should use temporary glasses with or without prescription, as recommended by your doctor, to prevent dust from getting into your eyes and to protect your eyes from simple impacts such as impact. Recommended.
Sports: You should avoid these sports after surgery, as your eye may get hit during sports based on mutual moves (football, basketball, volleyball, combat sports). However, you can easily do sports such as athletics and walking after a month. Swimming is not recommended until one to one and a half years after the stitches are removed, due to the possibility of your eyes becoming infected.
Cornea transplant surgery� When should a person who has had this condition contact an ophthalmologist urgently?
If you experience "pain", "stinging", "redness" and "low vision" in your eye that lasts more than 24 hours, you should contact your doctor without waiting for the appointment date. . This may be caused by loosening or breaking of the stitches in your eye, inflammation of your cornea, or a rejection reaction; Early application allows these problems to be treated more easily and in a shorter time.
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