[KoK! Health] Cornea Easily Damaged... 'Corneal Surgery' Needed to Prevent Blindness

The cornea, the first gateway of the eye, is easily damaged due to external exposure. Trauma, chemicals, viruses, and bacteria can all damage the cornea, potentially leading to blindness.If blindness occurs due to corneal damage, corneal transplantation is considered. Recently, with advances in medicine, corneal transplantation is performed in various ways such as full-thickness and partial-thickness transplants, achieving a 5-year success rate of 60-70%. We learned more about patients who need corneal transplantation, as well as treatment and management methods, with the help of Professor Kim Taegi from the Department of Ophthalmology at Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital.

Professor Kim Taegi, Department of Ophthalmology, Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital

Corneal transplantation is a surgery that replaces a damaged cornea with a healthy and transparent cornea donated by another person.The treatment method is determined according to the location and extent of the corneal damage.There are broadly two types: penetrating keratoplasty, which transplants the entire corneal layer, and lamellar keratoplasty, which is performed when the corneal lesion occurs only in part of the anterior or posterior layers. Recently, surgeries that transplant only corneal endothelial cells for patients with damage limited to the corneal endothelium have been gradually increasing in Korea. Globally, the number of partial-thickness corneal transplants is also rising compared to full-thickness transplants. Additionally, there is limbal transplantation, which transplants the limbus, a tissue located at the border between the cornea and sclera. This area contains corneal epithelial stem cells, and transplanting this part allows the stem cells to grow and restore the damaged area.

Generally, the graft survival rate without rejection is about 80-90% at 1 year and 60-70% at 5 years. The success rate is lower in eyes that have failed a previous transplant or have extensive peripheral corneal damage. The lifespan of the transplanted cornea is about 10 years, but if it is well maintained and the patient is young and healthy, it can last more than 20 years.Corneal transplantation can also be repeated.

Visual acuity after corneal transplantation varies depending on the residual astigmatism, but it can reach up to 1.0. After corneal transplantation, regular hospital visits are necessary to check for rejection reactions or unnecessary blood vessel growth on the transplanted cornea. It is also important to monitor whether the transplanted cornea is separating. Leaving the eye dry can easily cause corneal injuries. Artificial tears should be used regularly to keep the corneal surface comfortable. Rest is also important. Avoid overwork, and quit alcohol and smoking.

To maintain corneal health, it is essential to pay attention to dry eye syndrome. Many people who have undergone LASIK surgery suffer from dry eye syndrome because the nerves are slightly severed. When the nerves become numb and do not receive stimulation, tear secretion decreases.

Corneal diseases tend to progress rapidly. You might think it will be fine overnight, but the next day, the cornea can become cloudy. Regarding this, Professor Kim Taegi said, "It is necessary to determine whether the cause is an immune response or an infection, and if it is an infection, quickly diagnose whether the causative agent is a virus, bacteria, or fungus." He added, "If not treated at the appropriate time, it can quickly progress to a severe stage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.