What Is the Cornea Transplant Recovery Time?

There are over 44,000 corneal transplants done each year. Although this procedure was started back in the 1800s, it’s still one of the most common transplant procedures out there today. 

Are you someone that is in need of this necessary procedure? 

Finding out how long cornea transplant recovery lasts can help you feel more comfortable scheduling your appointment.

Keep reading to learn more about what to expect with a cornea transplant and the recovery process. 

Immediate Recovery

The immediate recovery from a cornea transplant is going to depend on whether you had a full or partial-thickness transplant. If you have a full-thickness transplant, you’ll likely have to stay in the hospital for at least one night. For a partial-thickness transplant, most patients can go home on the same day as the procedure.

A specific type of partial-thickness transplant called an endothelial keratoplasty will require you to lay on your back as much as possible following the procedure as well. This could be for at least a few days. 

Regardless, the doctor is going to cover the eye that received that corneal transplant with a patch or shield made of plastic, which is generally removed the following day. After this, you might find that your vision is a little blurry, but this is normal.

You won’t feel severe pain following the procedure, but you might be uncomfortable or have swelling in your eye. This is also normal, but if you find that your pain is severe or you’re not sure if you’re recovering well, it’s a good idea to talk to the doctor to make sure.

Long-Term Recovery

It can take as long as a year to completely recover from a cornea transplant. Whether you get a cornea transplant here or you are working with a different doctor, it’s always a good idea to get a recovery plan for afterward. 

However, a lot of people will find that they can resume their normal activities within a week or two following the procedure. You shouldn’t do any type of heavy lifting for at least a month or so after the transplant, but your doctor will give you a more definite timeline.

If you had stitches placed during the transplant, these will be essential to hold the cornea in place and let it heal correctly. For this reason, they are generally left in for quite a long time (up to the whole year of recovery), but it does depend on your specific situation.

Keep in mind that during the recovery time, you’ll want to pay close attention to your vision and general comfort in the eye that received the transplant. Your vision may not come back to normal for quite some time.

Experience a Positive Cornea Transplant Recovery

If you take proper care of your eye following a transplant, the cornea transplant recovery time shouldn’t be a huge issue.

Since this is a fairly common procedure, as long as you work with a cornea transplant surgeon that has experience and that you trust, you should find that the transplant goes off without a hitch. Be sure to call your doctor if you experience any issues that seem out of the ordinary based on your treatment and recovery plan information.

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