About Corneal Grafting
Key Highlights
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Restores vision impaired by corneal disease or injury.Relieves pain associated with certain corneal conditions.Modern techniques (like DMEK/DSAEK) offer faster visual recovery.Can treat conditions unresponsive to medication or other therapies.Uses carefully screened and processed donor tissue for safety.Can be performed as a full-thickness or partial-thickness transplant./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Keratoconus (a progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea).
- Corneal scarring from infection (e.g., herpes, fungal keratitis) or injury.
- Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (failure of the corneal pump cells).
- Bullous keratopathy (corneal swelling).
- Failed previous corneal graft (graft rejection or failure).
- Certain hereditary corneal dystrophies.
- Severe corneal ulcers or perforations.
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.
- Pre-operative tests as advised by the ophthalmologist and anesthesiologist.
- Arranging for donor corneal tissue, which is rigorously tested for safety.
- Fasting for several hours before the surgery if general anesthesia is planned.
- Arranging for transportation and post-operative care 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 (irregular corneal curvature) affecting vision.
- Graft failure, where the new cornea does not function properly.
- Retinal detachment or bleeding inside the eye (rare).
Recovery & hospital stay
- Eye will be patched and protected with a shield initially.
- Strict use of prescribed antibiotic and anti-inflammatory 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 instructed.
- Avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and swimming for a period specified by the surgeon.
- Attend all scheduled follow-up visits for monitoring of healing and graft health.
- Vision may be blurry and fluctuate for several weeks to months as the eye heals.
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Typical hospital stay: 0-1 days
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Expected recovery time: 3-6 months for stable vision
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering corneal grafting in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for corneal grafting 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 corneal grafting. 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 corneal grafting compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Corneal Grafting in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated ophthalmology teams and experience managing patients undergoing corneal grafting.
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Ophthalmologists for Corneal Grafting
Explore experienced ophthalmologists who regularly perform corneal grafting and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 14 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road
- 17 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi
- 10 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram
- 11 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospitals Broadway
- 12 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Salem
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria
- 11 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 44 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar
- 22 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road
- 28 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur
- 14 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Jaipur
- 27 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield
- 16 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Mysore
- 20 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Varthur Road
- 14 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Varthur Road
- 14 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi
- 10 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi
- 19 Years Experience
- Ophthalmologist
Manipal Hospital Ghaziabad