UIC Leads Corneal Transplants: Restoring Vision with Keratoplasty
The University of Illinois at Chicago, renowned for its ophthalmology and keratoplasty research, performs around 40,000 corneal transplants annually in the US. This procedure, also known as keratoplasty, replaces a damaged cornea with healthy donor tissue, restoring or improving vision.
Before the surgery, a thorough eye exam is crucial. Certain medications that interfere with blood clotting may need to be paused. The cornea, a clear, dome-shaped surface, protects the eye and permits light entry. During the procedure, a small piece of the damaged cornea is removed and replaced with donor tissue, sewn in with ultra-fine thread.
Post-surgery, some soreness is expected. An eye patch or gauze may be worn for up to four days. Eye drops and oral medications aid healing and prevent rejection or infection. Rejection, occurring in about 20 percent of cases, can cause decreasing vision, increasing redness, pain, and light sensitivity. Risks also include bleeding, infection, swelling, lens clouding, and increased eye pressure.
Corneal transplants, with improving success rates, can dramatically enhance vision for those with conditions like Fuchs' dystrophy, keratoconus, or cornea scarring. Despite risks, it remains a viable option for many, with around 40,000 procedures performed yearly in the US.
