Cornea transplant - Why cornea transplants are used

Cornea transplants are usually performed to correct problems with your eyesight caused by certain medical conditions.

They are also sometimes used to relieve pain in a damaged or diseased eye, or treat emergencies such as severe infection or damage.

Some of the most common reasons for requiring a cornea transplant are described below.

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a condition that causes the cornea to weaken, get thinner and change shape. It affects about 1 in 2,000 people. The exact cause of the condition is unknown. It's possibly passed down through the family or caused by an allergy. 

Keratoconus is one of the most common reasons for corneal transplantation in younger patients. It doesn't usually appear until the early teens, but can occur earlier in a few patients.

Many cases of keratoconus are mild and can be managed by using contact lenses or glasses. But in some patients it can progress to the point where a corneal transplant is necessary.

Degenerative conditions

Certain conditions may affect the eyes and cause them to slowly develop problems over time.

One example of this is Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, where functioning of the cells lining the inner cornea (the endothelium) begin to deteriorate. This happens faster as you get older. As the cells weaken, instead of clearing excess fluid they allow it to build up, leading to cloudy vision.

Other reasons

A cornea transplant may also be performed if:

• a small hole develops in the cornea as a result of damage (known as corneal perforation)
• an infection in the cornea doesn't respond to antibiotics and keeps returning
• the cornea is scarred because of an infection or injury

Read more about how a cornea transplant is performed.