New Factors Contribute To Failed Corneal Transplants

In a new study, patients who have undergone corneal transplant surgery and rejected the tissue were analyzed to determine why the corneal transplant failed. The results showed that patients suffering from other vision problems or patients who had past vision surgery may be more likely to reject corneal transplants.

According to an experienced ophthalmology professor at the University of Michigan, corneal transplant patients who were also suffering from glaucoma or who had corneal swelling after cataract surgery were more likely to have transplant problems. The study suggests these types of corneal transplant patients are more likely to suffer failures than other patients.

The study showed that patients who had intraocular lenses implanted during cataract surgery were 27% more likely to reject the corneal transplant than patients without intraocular lenses. In addition to these findings, normal corneal transplant patients without glaucoma rejected transplants about 11% of the time, while patients with glaucoma rejected transplants between 20 and 58 percent of the time.

The cornea is the clear outer tissue of the eye, and when it is damaged from injury or disease, it may need to be replaced with a transplant. Although about 5 to 30 percent of corneal transplants are rejected every year, the rejections can be treated and corrected.

The study did not mention if there is any connection between LASIK, PRK, or LASEK and corneal transplant rejection.

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