Everything You Wanted To Know About Corneal Transplants

Have you been told you need a cornea transplant? Has a friend told you about the surgery and you are wondering if you need it? As an experienced, skilled ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, Dr. Christopher Walton can determine these things, and help you get your vision and eye health back on track.

What is the Cornea?

The cornea is the outer layer of your eye. It functions as a protective layer, keeping debris out of your eye’s delicate structures. Anytime the cornea is damaged, your vision is negatively affected. Corneal injury can cause corneal scarring, which is another reason your vision could be affected.

The following are possible indications of corneal problems, but you must schedule a consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist like Dr. Walton to get an accurate diagnosis:

• Blurry vision
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Excessive tearing
• Sensitivity to light
• Redness of the eye

It is possible your symptoms will manifest in a different way. If you are at all concerned about your eye health, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Walton. He’ll get to the bottom of any problems and make sure you understand all of your treatment options.

Why Would I Need a Transplant?

You may need a corneal transplant if your cornea is affected by one of the following:

Not only will the quality of your vision be affected, but the health of your eye may be in jeopardy. A cornea transplant accomplishes the following:

• Fixes problems caused by a damaged cornea
• Alleviates corneal discomfort
• Restores vision damaged by corneal problems
• Halts damage from worsening

Dr. Walton can determine if the procedure is called for.

Here’s how it works: The purpose of the procedure is to implant corneal donor tissue in place of the damaged corneal tissue. Dr. Walton uses an advanced technique that removes only the damaged tissue and nothing else, allowing you to keep about 95 percent of the healthy corneal tissue. This technique is called a partial thickness corneal transplant.

Not only is this technique less invasive, it shortens the recovery phase by about 9 months compared to other methods.

Preventing Corneal Issues in the First Place

Here are basic tips for prevention:

• Don’t sleep with your contact lenses in
• Don’t place or remove your contact lenses without first washing your hands
• Avoid contact with people who have an eye infection, such as pinkeye
• Wear eye protection for high-intensity or contact sports
• Don’t share eye cosmetics
• Don’t share contact lens accessories with someone who has an eye infection

Some forms of corneal disease cannot be prevented because they are genetically inherited.

Here Is What You Should Do Next

Want to find out if you can benefit from a corneal transplant? Wondering why you are experiencing certain eye or vision symptoms? If so, please arrange a consultation with experienced ophthalmologist Dr. Christopher Walton, by calling 251-341-3385. Our practice is located in Mobile, Alabama, and we are proud to care for people from across the surrounding regions.