eye disorders
Corneal Transplantation
Key Points
Indications for corneal transplantation are manifold and include treatment of bullous keratopathy, keratoconus, keratitis, corneal chemical burns, and corneal stromal dystrophies. Depending on the indication, the entire thickness of the cornea, corneal stroma, the corneal endothelium alone, or corneal stem cells are transplanted. Tissue matching is not usually done; posttransplant care includes topical antibiotics and corticosteroids and eye protection (eg, shields). Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has the lowest rejection rates and highest rates of achieving 20/20 vision and can take only 2 months for maximal improvement in vision. 