On the day you arrive for surgery, you will be given eye drops and sometimes medications to help
you relax. The operation is painless. Anesthesia is either local or general, depending on your age,
medical condition and eye disease. You will not see the surgery while it is happening, and you will
not have to worry about keeping your eye open or closed.

In the operation, the eyelids are gently opened. Looking through a surgical microscope, the
ophthalmologist measures the eye for the size for the corneal transplant. The diseased or
injured cornea is carefully removed from the eye. Any necessary additional work within the eye,
such as removal of a cataract, is completed. Then the clear donor cornea is sewn into place using
tiny stitches of about one-third the diameter of a human hair.

When the operation is over, the ophthalmologist usually will place two eye pads over your eye.
Tape is used to hold the pads firmly in place. In addition, a perforated rigid shield also may be
taped on top of the patch to protect the eye from being hit or rubbed.

Post operative care
You will go home after a short stay in the Hospital.

* Use the eye drops as prescribed
* Be careful not to rub or press on your eye
* Use over-the-counter pain medicine if necessary
* Continue normal daily activities except exercise
* Ask your doctor when you may begin driving
* Wear eyeglasses or an eye shield as advised by your doctor

Your ophthalmologist will decide when to remove the stitches, depending on the health of the eye
and the rate of healing. Usually it takes at least several months before stitches are removed.

You must avoid a direct blow to the eye, and caution should be used in daily activities. For the
first several days after surgery, three activities you should avoid include:

* Heavy lifting
* Bending your head below your waist
* Straining that requires you to hold your breath

Corneal transplants are rejected 5 percent to 30 percent of the time. The rejected cornea clouds
and vision deteriorates. Most rejections, if treated promptly, may be stopped with minimal injury.
To make sure your transplant is not being rejected, remember to watch for "RSVP" warning signs.
They are:

Redness- your eye will be red for the first few weeks after surgery. However, you have a
problem if the redness increases after you have been home from the hospital for a while.
To check, pull down your lower eyelid very gently, and look for increased redness on the white
of the eye, especially around the cornea.
Sensitivity to light - If your eye becomes more sensitive to the light than it has been and you
have to squint to be comfortable, call the doctor.
Vision change. If your vision gets cloudy or deteriorates, call your doctor. Persistent discomfort.
Small, temporary twinges of pain are to be expected, but if your eye hurts or throbs steadily for
more than a few hours, call the doctor.

If you have any warning signs of complication, do not wait! Contact your ophthalmologist
immediately.

Other possible complications include:

* Infection
* Bleeding
* Swelling or detachment of the retina
* Glaucoma

All of these complications are treatable

You always will have to be aware of situations that could become a hazard to your new cornea.
A rejection could happen at any time for the rest of your life. A corneal transplant can be
repeated, usually with good results, but the overall rejection rates for repeated transplantations
are higher than for the first time around.