Is corneal surgery painful?
A corneal transplant surgery can be preformed with a clear donor corneal to replace a damaged corneal. Some of the conditions that could require a corneal transplant surgery are conditions such as scarring after injury or infections or any other condition resulting in glare or blurred vision. A corneal transplant may be necessary if you sustain a serious injury such as a deep scratch or burn. Clouding or repeated scarring of the corneal tissues over time may eventually obscure vision until you need surgery. Extremely thin corneal tissue caused by keratoconus a heredity corneal failure may also require transplantation.
What is a corneal transplant surgery?
A corneal transplant (keratoplasty) is a procedure in which some or all of a cornea in need of replacement is removed and replaced with donor tissue. The surgery may be done with traditional surgical technologies or with the aid of a surgical laser.
There are three types of corneal transplant surgery: full thickness cornea surgery, partial thickness corneal surgery, and Pterygium surgery. Each of the types has a varied healing period as they range in the extent of what is being done along with a varied time it takes to actually perform the surgery itself.
Full thickness cornea surgery is the most extensive surgery however it is less common. A full thickness cornea surgery is needed when you have severe damage to the cornea and need all of the layers of your cornea replaced. The medical term for this surgery is penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Typically we find that it takes just a few days of needing an eye patch and once removed often people experience blurry vision in that eye. Most people find within 6-12 weeks their eyes have adjusted to the new cornea and their vision has improved.
Partial thickness cornea surgery is when you need to replace only the innermost layer of the cornea. This is known as DSAEK, which stands for decimates stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty. DSAEK is a relatively new surgical technique that affords significant improvements over traditional corneal transplants for certain indications. Your vision will be quite blurry for the first few weeks after surgery as the new cornea is healing. Most patients notice improvement in their vision during the first two weeks after surgery, with continued improvement during the next four to six weeks.
Pterygium surgery is a procedure performed to remove noncancerous conjunctiva growths (pterygia) from the eye. The conjunctiva make up the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. The pterygium surgical procedure is fairly quick and low risk. We will remove the pterygium along with some associated conjunctiva tissue. Once the pterygium is removed, we will replace it with a graft of associated membrane tissue to prevent recurrent pterygium growths. Recovery time can take anywhere between a couple of weeks to a couple of months for your eye to completely heal, without signs of redness or discomfort.
Is corneal surgery painful?
For all three types of corneal surgery, your doctor will numb your eye with drops or an injection near the eye. Your doctor may also give you a medication to relax including the potential for either local or general anesthesia to prevent any pain occurring during the surgery. This allows you to be relaxed and comfortable while allowing the doctor to focus on the precise work needing to be done. In most cases, you will not need stitches to close the incisions. The so-called self-sealing incisions will close on their own in time. Your surgeon will place a shield over your eye to protect it during the healing process.
During the healing process, you may find some discomfort in the area, however there should not be severe pain. It is normal to experience some redness that could last for a few weeks. It’s also common to notice some blurriness during recovery. You may be prescribed specific eye drops to use during this time to help the eye heal and adjust to this new cornea. It is important to be extra carful around this eye during your recovery time to ensure no complications arise.
If you find that you are having more severe discomfort post corneal surgery, it is important to alert your doctor right away. Avoid assuming home remedies or rubbing of the eye will help and seek advice from your doctor. They will give you specific instructions and guidelines on how to best let your eye heal.
