When the cornea (KOR-nee-ah), which is the clear front covering of the eye, becomes scarred or clouded by injury or disease, vision can be impaired to the point that a corneal transplant is needed. A cornea transplant is performed with the cornea tissue from a human donor. The name of the intended recipient is placed on a waiting list until the tissue becomes available. Then, when a donor is found to match certain features of the recipient’s immune system, surgery is performed. During this procedure the diseased area of the recipient’s cornea is removed, and the donor tissue is grafted into place with very fine sutures.

The success rate for corneal transplants is high, but vision will fluctuate until the eye has completely healed, which can sometimes take up to a year. Due to the lack of blood vessels in the cornea, there is less problem with rejection of the transplanted tissue than with other types transplants, and immunosuppressant drugs usually are not needed. This information is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis or medical care. Consult a licensed health care provider for further information.