eye disorders
Corneal Transplantation
Complications of Corneal Transplantation
Some corneal transplantation complications are Rejection of the transplant Infection Incision problems Glaucoma None Failure of the transplant Episodes of mild rejection are common and are easily and successfully treated with corticosteroid eye drops in most people. Severe, irreversible rejection (called graft failure) is rare. DMEK has the lowest rejection rates, and penetrating keratoplasty has the highest rejection rates of the different types of corneal transplantation. Rejection is not a risk with DSO because there is no foreign tissue to reject. A transplanted cornea is usually not irreversibly rejected because a cornea does not have or need a blood supply. It receives oxygen and other nutrients from nearby tissues and fluid. The components of the immune system that initiate rejection in response to a foreign substance—certain white blood cells and antibodies—are carried in the bloodstream. Thus, these cells and antibodies do not reach the transplanted cornea, do not encounter the foreign tissue there, and do not initiate severe rejection. However, in rare cases where abnormal blood vessels have grown deeply and extensively into the person’s cornea, the transplanted cornea is severely rejected and fails at a higher rate. Other organs or tissues in the body with a rich blood supply are much more likely to be rejected. Sometimes the transplant may fail and not work well (that is, it may become cloudy and not remain clear). Corneal transplants can be repeated multiple times. People who have had several unsuccessful transplants may be given an artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis). 