Corneal disease and transplant

THE CORNEA
 The cornea is the clear tissue covering the front of the eye.  It is the main focusing element of the     eye.  Vision will be dramatically, reduced if the cornea becomes cloudy from disease, injuries or infections.

CAUSES OF CORNEAL INJURY
Knives, pencils, and other sharp objects can cause severe injury to the cornea. Fireworks, exploding batteries, and toxic chemicals can also result in severe scarring of the cornea. In fact, protection of the cornea is the reason emergency washing of the eye is absolutely necessary when the eye is exposed to toxic chemicals. Most corneal injuries are preventable with protective glasses and proper precautions when dealing with hazardous substances.

CAUSES OF CORNEAL DISEASE AND DEGENERATION
Infections, whether bacterial, fungal, or viral are frequent causes of severe corneal damage and ulceration. Abnormal steepening of the cornea (keratoconus), degeneration occasionally following cataract surgery (corneal edema and swelling), and some aging processes can also affect the clarity and health of the cornea.

CORNEAL TRANSPLANTS
If the cornea becomes cloudy, the only way to restore sight is to replace or transplant the cornea. Corneal transplantation (penetrating keratoplasty) is the most successful of all tissue transplants with an overall success rate greater than 90%.  Over 46,000 corneas are donated for transplant each year in the United States. The success rate depends on the cause of the corneal clouding. For example, corneal transplants for degeneration following cataract surgery and those for keratoconus both have high success rates, while corneal transplants for chemical burns have lower success rates.

AFTER SURGERY
Return of best vision after corneal surgery may take up to a year after the cornea transplant. As in any kind of transplant, rejection of the donated tissue can take place. The major signs of rejection are redness of the eye or worsening of vision. If these occur, prompt return to the ophthalmologist is necessary even if it is years after the original procedure. 

REGULAR MEDICAL EYE EXAMINATIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE
Eye disease can strike at any age. Many eye diseases do not cause symptoms until the disease has done its damage. Since most blindness is preventable if diagnosed and treated early, regular medical examinations by an ophthalmologist are very important.  Why an ophthalmologist?   Because only an ophthalmologist (MD) can provide total care for your eyes: medical, surgical, and optical.