Every year, it is estimated that 44,000 people receive corneal transplants. At Vision 3C Specialists in San Antonio, we are dedicated to helping our patients who are in need of this procedure. If you visit our office for this procedure, we will start by reviewing your medical history as well as giving you an eye exam to ensure the surgery is right for you. Dr. Trujillo will be happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding the procedure.

What Is a Corneal Transplant?

The primary responsibility of the cornea is to assist with the bending of light as it enters your eye. This enables you to see more clearly. The cornea is shaped like a dome-like window and is located over the colored part of the eye. During a corneal transplant, the cornea is replaced with a new and healthy cornea that matches with an organ donor. 

What Are Corneal Transplants Good For?

If you have experienced some type of corneal damage or your vision is impaired in some way, you may make for a good candidate for a corneal transplant. This procedure will help in restoring your vision to see better. There are common medical conditions that will qualify you for a corneal transplant:

• Wounds or scarring of the cornea resulting from an infection, injury, or an eye operation
• Keratoconus which makes your cornea bulge
• Swelling, clouding, and thinning of the cornea
• Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy or other disorders that are inherited and can cause corneal issues

What Can I Expect During a Corneal Transplant?

Before your surgery, you will meet with the eye surgeon who will walk you through what you can expect. Your thorough medical history will be reviewed. Any pre-operative tests and measures will then be performed. Your eye doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops that will need to be used prior to your surgery to help with reducing the risk for infection. 

You will be given a local anesthetic on the day of the surgery. This means that you will be awake during the procedure even though you will not feel anything. The surgery lasts anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes. The damaged cornea is removed and replaced with the healthy one.

This procedure is normally performed in an outpatient setting. Make sure to have someone drive you there and pick you up. You will be given instructions following your surgery on self-care tips along with signs and symptoms that you should watch out for. 

Contact Us for Eye Surgery in San Antonio, TX

If you live in or around San Antonio and are considering eye surgery to correct your vision, call our team at Vision 3C Specialists today at (210) 538-2020 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Trujillo.