Learn about Cornea Transplant Treatment in India — how it works, who it is for, recovery timelines, and what to expect before and after surgery. Compare hospitals and doctors experienced in Cornea Transplant and request assistance for cost estimates or appointments.

About Cornea Transplant

A cornea transplant, also known as keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed by an ophthalmologist to replace a damaged or diseased cornea with healthy donor tissue. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye essential for focusing vision. This sight-restoring surgery is typically recommended when vision problems cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or medication. Modern techniques, such as Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) or Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), allow for selective replacement of only the damaged corneal layers, leading to faster recovery and better outcomes. A successful transplant can dramatically improve vision, reduce pain, and treat various corneal conditions.

Key Highlights

    Can restore clear vision and significantly improve quality of life.Treats a wide range of corneal diseases and injuries.Modern techniques (like DSAEK/DMEK) offer faster visual recovery and fewer complications.High success rate for many conditions, especially when performed by a skilled specialist.Can relieve pain associated with certain corneal disorders.

Who is this surgery for?

  • Keratoconus (a thinning and bulging of the cornea).
  • Corneal scarring from infection (e.g., herpes, fungal keratitis) or injury.
  • Fuchs' dystrophy or other corneal endothelial dystrophies.
  • Corneal failure after previous eye surgery (e.g., cataract surgery).
  • Severe corneal ulcers or perforations.
  • Hereditary corneal opacities or degenerations.
  • Chemical burns or trauma damaging the cornea.

How to prepare

  • Comprehensive eye examination to assess corneal health and overall eye condition.
  • Measurement of the eye to determine the required graft size.
  • Review of medical history and current medications; some may need to be paused.
  • Arrangement for a suitable donor cornea from an eye bank.
  • Pre-operative instructions, which may include fasting before surgery.
  • Discussion of anesthesia options (typically local with sedation).
  • Planning for post-operative care and assistance at home.

Risks & possible complications

  • Graft rejection, where the body's immune system attacks the donor tissue.
  • Infection in the eye (endophthalmitis).
  • Increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma).
  • Cataract formation or progression.
  • Astigmatism or other refractive errors requiring glasses or contact lenses.
  • Graft failure, where the new cornea does not function properly.
  • Retinal detachment or swelling (cystoid macular edema).
  • Bleeding, inflammation, or wound healing problems.

Recovery & hospital stay

  • Eye will be patched and protected with a shield initially.
  • Strict use of prescribed antibiotic and steroid eye drops for several months to prevent infection and rejection.
  • Avoid rubbing, pressing, or getting water in the eye for several weeks.
  • Wear protective eyewear during the day and a shield at night as advised.
  • Avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and swimming for a period specified by your doctor.
  • Attend all scheduled follow-up visits for close monitoring of healing and graft health.
  • Vision may be blurry initially and improve gradually over weeks to months.
  • Final vision correction with glasses or contact lenses may be needed after full healing.
  • checked Typical hospital stay: 0-1 days (often outpatient or short stay)
  • checked Expected recovery time: 3-6 months for full visual stabilization (initial recovery 4-6 weeks)

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are considering cornea transplant in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.

Procedure cost in other countries

Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for cornea transplant compare across other countries where we have data.

Country Estimated cost range Typical stay Recovery time View details
India INR 50 Thousand – 200 Thousand 0-1 days (often outpatient or short stay) ~ 3-6 months for full visual stabilization (initial recovery 4-6 weeks) Know More
Turkey TRY 175 Thousand – 700 Thousand 0-1 days (often outpatient or short stay) ~ 3-6 months for full visual stabilization (initial recovery 4-6 weeks) Know More

Top hospitals for Cornea Transplant in India

These partner hospitals in India have dedicated ophthalmology teams and experience managing patients undergoing cornea transplant.

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89+ Rating

Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa

  • Iconvijayawada, India
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2882+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Whitefield

  • IconBangalore, India
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135+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Goa

  • IconPanaji, India
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PATIENT REVIEW

Anika Iyer, a 42-year-old software engineer...

Anika Iyer, a 42-year-old software engineer and avid painter, had her world slowly blurring for years due to keratoconus. Her once-vivid colors on canvas became muddy smudges, and reading code on her screen was a daily strain. Specialized contact lenses, which she found intolerable, were no longer effective. Her ophthalmologist, Dr. Mehta, gently explained that a corneal transplant (penetrating keratoplasty) was the only way to restore functional vision and save her career and passion. Anika was terrified of surgery on her eye but felt a deep sense of loss over her art. The procedure itself was anxiety-inducing but painless under local anesthesia. The recovery was long and required meticulous care with steroid drops and frequent check-ups. A year later, her graft is clear and stable. With a new prescription, her vision is 20/30. She has returned to painting, her colors vibrant once more. The emotional journey was from grief and fear over losing her creative outlet to profound gratitude and a renewed sense of identity, calling the transplant 'a gift of light.'

Ophthalmologists for Cornea Transplant

Explore experienced ophthalmologists who regularly perform cornea transplant and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.

Dr. Poonam Yadav
  • 21 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Rita Dash
  • 27 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 800
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. NAVYA MANNEM
  • 5 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 1000
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Lucky Kharbanda
  • 28 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 1000
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Metro Hospital,, Faridabad

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Rajat Anand
  • 28 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 1000
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. L Geetha
  • 23 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Tamil, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 900
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Rakesh Parashar
  • 19 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 1000
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Metro Hospital,, Faridabad

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Prarthana Anand
  • 15 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 1000
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Gaurav Suryawanshi
  • 12 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Tamil, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 900
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. N V Raghunath Rao
  • 9 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 800
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Sugato Pal
  • 20 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 800
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Naveen Kumar Naik
  • 9 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 850
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Ashwini P
  • 8 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 950
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Mridula Pentapati
  • 16 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 800
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Mukta Shrivastava
  • 11 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 2000
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Anindya Anuradha
  • 17 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 1500
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Ranchi, Ranchi

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Raviraj Shravan Gaydhankar
  • 16 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 550
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Nirmala
  • 13 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 500
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. Mohammed Sadiq
  • 10 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 350
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated
Dr. G Seethapathy
  • 11 Years Experience
  • Ophthalmologist
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 450
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Salem, Salem

OPD-desk synced • Updated