Ophthalmologists perform an estimated 40,000 Corneal Transplants each year in the United States. Of all transplant surgery done today, including heart, lung and kidney, corneal transplants are by far the most common and successful. Dr. Bokosky, as a Corneal Specialist, has been performing Corneal Transplant Surgery for over 17 years.

A Corneal Transplant may be necessary if your cornea is damaged due to injury or disease. Since there is no artificial substitute for corneal tissue, a human donor cornea is transplanted to restore sight. The San Diego Eye Bank provides the corneal tissue for our patients that are extensively tested, ensuring that all medical safety standards are met.

Return of best vision after Corneal Transplant Surgery may take up to a year after the operation, depending on the rate of healing and the overall health of the eye. As in any kind of transplant, rejection of the donated tissue can take place. The major signs of rejection are redness of the eye or worsening of vision. If these occur, prompt return to your ophthalmologist is necessary even if it is years after the original operation.

A successful Corneal Transplant requires care and attention on the part of both patient and physician. However, no other surgery has so much to offer when the cornea is deeply scarred or afflicted with disease.

Of course, Corneal Transplant Surgery would not be possible without the hundreds of thousands of generous donors and their families who have donated corneal tissue so that others may see. If you would like more information on becoming a donor, please contact the San Diego Eye Bank at (858) 694-0400, visit their website at www.sandiegoeyebank.org or via e-mail at sdeb@sdeb.org.

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