What you can expect

During the procedure

On the day of your cornea transplant, you'll either be given a sedative to help you relax and a local anesthetic to numb your eye, or you'll be put to sleep. Either way, you shouldn't feel pain.

Surgery is done on one eye at a time. The amount of time spent in surgery is different and depends on your situation.

After the procedure

Once your cornea transplant is completed, you can expect to:

• Receive medications. Eyedrops and, sometimes, oral medications immediately after cornea transplant and during recovery will help control infection, swelling and pain. Eyedrops to suppress the immune system help prevent cornea rejections.
• Wear eye protection. Eye shields or glasses protect your eye as it heals.
• Lie on your back. Depending on the type of transplant, you might have to do this for a while after surgery to help the new tissue stay in place.
• Avoid injury. Plan to take it easy after your cornea transplant, and slowly work your way up to your normal activities, including exercise. Don't rub or press on your eye. For the rest of your life, you'll need to take extra precautions to avoid harming your eye.
• Return for frequent follow-up exams. Expect to see your eye doctor regularly in the year after surgery to monitor your progress and look for complications.