Penetrating keratoplasty
Comprehensive surgery for severe corneal issues
Penetrating Keratoplasty is a more extensive surgical procedure that involves replacing the entire thickness of the cornea. This method is typically indicated for patients with severe corneal damage or disease.
During Penetrating Keratoplasty, the damaged cornea is carefully removed, and a full-thickness donor cornea is stitched into place. While the recovery period may take longer compared to less invasive options, this surgery can significantly enhance vision for individuals suffering from serious corneal problems.
If you are experiencing severe corneal issues, Penetrating Keratoplasty can be an effective solution to consider for restoring your vision.
Who is a Candidate?
Patients with full-thickness corneal disease or scarring that cannot be treated with partial or endothelial grafts.
Common indications include:
- Advanced keratoconus with corneal thinning or scarring
- Corneal scarring from infection, trauma or chemical injury
- Corneal dystrophies affecting multiple layers
- Corneal perforation or severe ectasia
- Failed previous graft or endothelial keratoplasty.
Recovery Timeline
This is likely to vary with provider.
- Hospital stay: Usually day surgery or overnight observation
- Initial recovery:
- Vision gradually returns over weeks to months
- Stitches remain for 12–18 months; visual stability achieved after removal
- Return to normal activities: 2–4 weeks (light tasks), but must avoid eye trauma
- Full recovery: may take 12–24 months, depending on healing and astigmatism correction.
Benefits
- Restores vision in cases where all corneal layers are damaged
- Long-term graft survival (if rejection is prevented)
- Allows for optical correction when the cornea is severely distorted or opaque
- Can be repeated if graft fails (though with increasing risk).
Risks
- Graft rejection (most significant long-term complication)
- Infection (keratitis or endophthalmitis)
- Astigmatism and irregular vision due to sutures or wound healing
- Prolonged visual recovery and dependence on glasses/contact lenses
- Graft failure or recurrence of original disease
- Wound break down - the surgical wound can reopen even years later if injured.
This is just an outline. Your specialist eye surgeon will be able to talk to you about these issues in more detail and make sure that there is informed consent.
Penetrating keratoplasty replaces the entire corneal thickness, offering vision restoration in severe corneal disease - but recovery is long and delicate, and success depends on rejection prevention and astigmatism management.