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How to prepare for a Successful Corneal Graft

Undergoing a corneal graft operation can be nerve-wrecking especially if […]

By Published On: 21 July 20123.3 min read

Undergoing a corneal graft operation can be nerve-wrecking especially if you are thinking about the risk of rejection in the surgery. It is notable to consider, however, that 90 percent of corneal graft operations are actually successful. In order to contribute to the success of the operation, keep in mind that even if the eye surgeon has a credible record of prosperous surgeries, he will still need your full cooperation, before, during and after the operation.

Preparation

Before the surgery will take place, you will still need to undergo several medical examinations that will help the medical team in evaluating your condition.

•    Report any related eye-condition. Corneal graft entails a surgery wherein your eyes must remain still during the entire period, lest it will hinder the success of the operation. If you have any involuntary eye conditions, it would be best to report it to the eye surgeon so that he can provide the necessary action before the surgery can take place.
•    Report other health conditions. Since you will be prescribed with medications following the corneal graft, you need to be assured that this will not provide any complication with the current medications that you are taking, as well as the kind of diet that you should follow prior to the surgery. Patients with diabetes are often prescribed with specific guidelines that will help them in controlling their sugar levels.
•    Take note of your medications. Some risks can follow after a corneal graft, such as bleeding and eye discomfort, to name a few, and certain medications can actually aggravate the occurrence of such side effects. If you are taking any medications, be it prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements, it would be best to take note of them and consult it with your doctor. He might ask you to lower the dosage or discontinue the use of certain medications in order to prevent any surgical complications. The use of medications that thins the blood, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or arthritis medications should also be avoided seven days before the surgery, as this can increase the risk of bleeding.
•    Prepare a comfortable set-up for yourself. Enlist a reliable family member or a friend who will give you a ride or accompany you before and after the transplant. Don’t forget to wear comfortable and unrestrictive clothing for the surgery. A corneal graft can be a stressful event, thus you need to eliminate the factors which can only provide additional and unwanted stress.

Post Operation Measures

The success of your corneal graft will not only depend on the surgery, but also on how you will deal with it right after.

•    Follow the doctors’ orders. The eye surgeon will prescribe several medications including oral and eye drops. Religiously follow them in order avoid any occurrences of discomfort, pain, swelling or infection.
•    Protect your eyes. Your eyes will be at its most sensitive stage after the surgery, so you will need to wear a protective shield and a gauze patch for the next few days.
•    Always take care of your eyes. This will hold true, not only for the following weeks but for all time. Protect your eyes even from the possibility small risks by wearing appropriate eye protectors.
•    Return for check-ups and eye examinations. Your eye doctor will request for you to attend several eye examinations and follow-up examinations to check if there are any complications that might have developed.
•    Finally. Make sure you are referred to an experienced corneal specialist. Not every ophthalmologist is experienced in corneal transplantation.

At The Eye Practice we are familiar with the best corneal specialists because we deal with complex corneal conditions like keratoconus every day.  It is in our and our patient’s best interest to have great outcomes, when our management is not sufficient anymore.  If you are interested in finding out or being referred for a corneal transplant, call us on (02) 9290 1899 for an assessment.

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