Corneal transplantation

[Lanell]

Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is a common and highly successful type of transplantation. A scarred, severely painful, perforated, misshapen, or cloudy cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil) can be replaced with a clear, healthy one.
(See also Introduction to Corneal Disorders.)
Donated corneas come from people who have recently died. Tissue matching is not routinely done because the rejection rate is not lower even when matched tissue is used, and rejection reactions usually respond to treatment.
Transplants tend to be most successful when done for disorders such as bullous keratopathy, keratoconus, and certain corneal scars. They tend to be least successful when done because the cornea was damaged by a chemical or radiation.