Definition of cornea:

It is the transparent layer that covers the eye, through which vision is obtained. It is composed of solid and transparent tissues.

Cornea Function:

1. Protecting the eye from dust and germs.
2. Playing an important role in vision.

Facts about the Cornea:

1. The cornea does not contain blood vessels, unlike other tissues in the body.
2. The cornea can heal itself from minor infections and injuries.
3. The cornea contains five layers, each with different functions.

Prevention of Corneal Diseases:

• Wear sunglasses when leaving the house.
• Wear protective eyewear from dust.
• Avoid rubbing the eyes excessively.
• Wear protective eyewear when performing tasks that may cause eye damage, such as home maintenance work.
• Clean glasses lenses properly.
• Regularly examine the eyes.

Reasons for corneal transplantation:

• Keratoconus
• Hereditary corneal diseases.
• Corneal infections and their unresponsiveness to treatment.
• Keratitis.
• Corneal opacity and injury.
• Eye burns.
• Post-surgery complications such as cataract and glaucoma surgeries.

Conditions for Corneal Donation:

A person can express their wish to donate their organs after death, including the cornea, by registering their desire through the Tawakkalna application and sharing that desire with their family.

What is Corneal Transplantation Surgery?

It is a surgical procedure in which a damaged or diseased part or the entire cornea is replaced with a healthy cornea.

The Mechanism of Corneal Procurement and Transplantation:

The corneas used in corneal transplantation procedures are obtained from deceased donors. In fact, corneas from donors with unknown causes of death are not suitable for donation.

Unlike organs such as the liver and kidney, corneal transplantations do not require tissue matching of the recipients.

Types of corneal transplantation:

1. Full Thickness Corneal Transplantation:

In this procedure, the entire damaged cornea is replaced with a full-thickness healthy donor cornea from a deceased donor.

2. Partial Thickness Corneal Transplantation:

In this procedure, only the damaged part of the cornea is replaced with a layer of healthy donor corneal tissue from a deceased donor.

3. Descemet's Stripping procedure for the cornea:

The inner layer of the cornea is removed and replaced with a tissue that is secured with a specialized type of gas or air instead of sutures.

How long does the cornea remain viable for transplantation?

The cornea must be transplanted into the patient's body after being removed from the donor's body within a time period that does not exceed 14 days.

The most important guidelines after corneal transplantation surgery:

• Partial vision is usually restored, depending on the patient's health condition and the reason for the transplantation procedure.
• It is important to keep the follow-up appointments with the medical team after corneal transplantation.
• Avoid rubbing the eye.
• Avoid sports activities that involve direct contact such as soccer and swimming.
• Avoid exposure to smoke or dust.
• It is necessary to wear sunglasses if your eyes are sensitive to light.

Complications of corneal transplantation:

• Body rejection.
• Infection
• Redness of the eye.
• Light sensitivity of the eye.
• Vision problems.