Cornea Transplant
The cornea measures approximately 12 millimeters in diameter and in its normal state allows rays of light to pass through so that they may be focused on the retina in order to see. Many eye conditions affect the cornea and may change its normal transparency. Injuries, infections, inherited conditions or aging may cause clouding of the cornea and result in decreased or distorted vision.
Sometimes the vision may be improved with glasses, a contact lens or medications. However, in many cases a cornea transplant is necessary to restore sight. On occasion an eye may be painful due to corneal swelling, and the transplant, in addition to restoring vision, will relieve the pain.
The central cloudy portion of the involved cornea is removed at the time of surgery and replaced with a clear cornea donated by a person recently deceased. The entire cornea is not usually transplanted, but only the central portion.
Patients will continue to see Dr. Phillips for a year or more after the transplant. After that time, patients are asked to return to their comprehensive eye care provider for regular follow-up.
Who Needs a Cornea Transplant
There are several factors to consider in deciding who could benefit from a cornea transplant and at what time. Dr. Phillips considers the general health of the eye, the pressure inside the eye, the vision in each eye and the specific condition that caused the decreased vision in the involved eye. Also, any past eye surgery must be taken into account, and any effect it might have on further surgery.
Dr. Phillips performs cornea transplant on patients with the following eye conditions:
- Keratoconus
- Fuch’s Dystrophy
- Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy
- Corneal Scar
- Corneal Perforation
- Penetrating Injuries
He performs cornea transplants at the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital and performs pediatric cornea transplants at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. A cornea transplant is an outpatient procedure, most of the time.