Is it possible to have multiple corneal transplants if one has Fuchs' Dystrophy?
FEB 05, 2015
Question:
I have Fuchs’ dystrophy and I am 18 months post–corneal transplant of right eye. My vision in the right eye remains poor and now I am close to having my left transplanted. I am afraid the left eye will be just as poor as the right after the transplant. The specialists say I should go ahead with the transplant as the pressure in the left eye has now increased and vision is not good. I also have a lot of discomfort and pain. My question is, can a person have more than one transplant? I have had a test to exclude nerve damage and was also wondering why the vision in the right eye is still poor.
Answer:
Corneal transplants can be re-transplanted if they fail, scar, or produce poor vision. Transplants can be repeated multiple times as long as there is a reasonable chance of success and the eye and patient can tolerate additional procedures. If the reason for vision loss is from the cornea alone, a corneal transplant should be successful in helping restore vision.
Fuchs’ dystrophy can lead to poor vision if the cornea swells and is no longer transparent. In some severe cases, cysts or bullae form on the surface of the eye which can cause sharp pain if they rupture.
Your surgeon should understand the reason for the unsuccessful transplant in the right eye and have a corrective plan in place before attempting the transplant for the left eye. If you are unsure if a corneal transplant is the correct next step for you, you can get a second opinion from another corneal surgeon. You should be comfortable with any treatment decision being made for your eyes, especially if you're considering surgery.