About Cornea Transplant
Key Highlights
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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.
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Typical hospital stay: 0-1 days (often outpatient or short stay)
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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.
Popular choices for cornea transplant in India include Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Manipal Hospital Goa , known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform cornea transplant. MediFyr helps you compare ophthalmologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
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.
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.
- 21 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 27 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 5 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 23 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 19 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
- 15 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 12 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 9 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 20 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 9 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 16 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 17 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Ranchi, Ranchi
- 16 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 13 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 10 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist