Why it's done

A cornea transplant is most often used to restore vision to a person with a damaged cornea. A cornea transplant can also relieve pain or other signs and symptoms associated with cornea diseases.

A number of conditions can be treated with a cornea transplant, including:

• A cornea that bulges outward (keratoconus)
• Fuchs' dystrophy, a hereditary condition
• Thinning or tearing of the cornea
• Cornea scarring, caused by infection or injury
• Swelling of the cornea
• Corneal ulcers not responding to medical treatment
• Complications caused by previous eye surgery