I always struggled with school work when I was younger. The words just seem to swim in front of my eyes, and I found it hard to concentrate on the page. It wasn't until much later that I realised that I was long-sighted. As soon as I got prescription glasses, I suddenly found it much easier to read and actually started to enjoy reading for relaxation. I wish I'd gotten glasses so much earlier. This blog is all about getting glasses for long-sighted kids and has some tips on knowing when a kid should be taken to the optometrist for an eye test.
The cornea is the clear protective layer on the front of your eye and it plays a key role in your eye's ability to focus. Damage to your cornea can lead to loss of vision, eye pain and inflammation to the surrounding tissue, which can lead to other parts of the eye becoming damaged. There are a number of reasons your cornea can become damaged including scarring caused by an injury, ulcers caused by an infection and certain eye conditions, such as Fuchs' dystrophy. When damage to the cornea impacts your vision, your doctor may recommend a cornea transplant. This is a relatively safe procedure, and there's generally not a long waiting period to receive a donated cornea, which is sourced from a deceased donor. Here's an overview of the procedure, recovery period and potential complications of cornea transplant surgery.
The Surgery
Cornea transplant surgery is carried out while you are awake. You can opt to have a sedative and you will be given a local anaesthetic so you won't feel any pain during the procedure. The surgeon will cut away the diseased or damaged cornea with a special tool called a trephine, which allows them to be precise and minimises the risk of cutting too far. The donor cornea, which will have been cut to fit your eye, is slotted into position and the surgeon will use fine stitches to hold it in place. The stitches will have to be removed at a later appointment when your doctor feels the cornea has healed sufficiently. Cornea transplant surgery typically requires at least one overnight stay in the hospital to ensure there are no post-surgical complications, such as severe eye pain.
Recovery Period
You will be sent home with eye drops to prevent the eye drying out while it heals, and you may also be given antibiotics to prevent a bacterial infection developing or anti-inflammatories to support healing. You will also need to wear an eye patch to protect your eye from bright light, dust and debris while it heals, and your doctor will give you instructions for gradually reducing the time you wear the eye patch. You will also require several follow-up appointments to check for complications from the procedure and to determine the quality of your sight as your eye heals. Some patients will require glasses or laser eye surgery to correct minor vision problems, such as near-sightedness, after the recovery period.
Potential Complications
Complications after cornea transplant surgery aren't common, but it's important to be aware of potential problems. It's possible to develop an eye infection and stitches can sometimes cause small bumps to form on the cornea, which can cause localised irritation. Additionally, the procedure can increase the pressure within your eye, which can put you at an increased risk of developing glaucoma. Your body may also try to reject the donor cornea, which can cause eye pain, inflammation and loss of vision, so immunosuppressant medication may be required to prevent rejection.
If you're considering cornea transplant surgery, ensure you discuss any concerns you have ahead of time with an eye surgeon. They can answer your questions in detail and help you decide how you want to proceed with your eye care.
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