Eye Donation and the Importance of Corneal Transplants
A corneal transplant replaces a scarred or damaged cornea with a cornea from an eye donor. The generosity of donors makes it possible for people who struggle with vision loss to see clearly once again.
What Is the Cornea?
The cornea is the clear dome-shaped tissue covering the outer part of the eye. The cornea bends light as it enters the eye and works with the eye's lens to focus light on the retina.
When Is a Corneal Transplant Necessary?
Infections, injuries, and diseases can scar the cornea, reducing the amount of light that enters the eye. When this happens, vision may look cloudy or blurry. This may affect a person's ability to do many things, from driving to reading to cooking.
Damage to the cornea may be caused by:
- Infections and Injuries. The cornea can be damaged by sharp objects that cut the cornea, burns, or infections. Infections cause ulcers and sores on the cornea that can become infected. As a cut or ulcer heals, scars may form.
- Keratoconus. The cornea thins and becomes cone shaped in keratoconus. Special contact lenses or devices that flatten the cornea can be helpful, but a corneal transplant may be the best option in severe cases.
- Fuch's Dystrophy. This inherited eye disease causes deterioration of corneal cells.
- Eye Surgery. Some people need corneal transplants due to eye surgery complications.
What Happens During a Corneal Transplant?
During a corneal transplant, an ophthalmologist numbs the eye, then removes all or part of the damaged cornea and replaces it with healthy corneal tissues obtained from an eye donor. The new tissue is attached to the eye with a few stitches.
Some improvement in vision may be noticeable immediately, although more dramatic improvement usually happens between 6 to 12 weeks. Fully recovery can take about a year.
Corneal transplants have a high success rate. In fact, more than 97% of transplants successfully restore vision, according to the Eye Bank Association of America.
Who Can Be an Eye Donor?
Eye donors donate their corneas after they die. As there are currently no artificial corneas, cornea donations are essential. Corneal tissue must be obtained within 12 hours of death or the corneas may start to deteriorate. Donated corneas are usually transplanted within two weeks. Eye donations don't change the appearance of the eyes after death and won't affect funeral arrangements.
Many people can be eye donors. It doesn't matter if you wear glasses or have cataracts or aren't the same blood type as the recipient. Chronic health conditions won't necessarily prevent you from becoming a donor.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye Wiki, donors who have diseases that can be transmitted through a corneal transplant aren't good donors. Those diseases include hepatitis, HIV, herpes simplex virus, rabies, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and bacterial eye infections.
Donated corneas that aren't suitable for transplantation for any reason may still be useful in research or medical education.
How Can I Become an Eye Donor?
If you'd like to be an eye donor, check the organ donor box the next time your renew your driver's license. You may also want to register with eye donation registries, like the Eye Bank Association of America or the National Donate Life Registry.
Be sure to tell your family members about your desire to be an eye donor. After your death, your family will need to discuss your wish to donate your eyes with hospital staff or the local eye bank.
Eye donation offers a way to make a difference for people facing vision loss due to corneal damage or disease. More than 2.5 million people in the world have benefited from eye donation since 1961, according to the Eye Bank Association of America.
Are you concerned about an issue with your corneas, or do you need to make an appointment with the ophthalmologist? Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: About Corneal Transplantation, 12/4/2025
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/about-corneal-transplantation
National Eye Institute: Corneal Transplants, 9/4/2025
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Donating Your Eyes for the Gift of Sight, 3/6/2023
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/donating-your-corneas-other-eye-tissue
Eye Bank Association of America: Frequently Asked Questions about Eye Banking, Corneas, and Transplantation
https://restoresight.org/cornea-donation/faqs/
American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye Wiki: Corneal Donation, 1/26/2025
https://eyewiki.org/Corneal_Donation
Cornea Research Foundation of America: Fuch's Dystrophy
https://www.cornea.org/Learning-Center/Conditions-Research-Areas/Fuchs-Dystrophy.aspx
Eye Bank Association of America: Register As a Donor
https://restoresight.org/cornea-donation/register-as-a-donor/
Donate Life America: National Donate Life Registry
https://donatelife.net/donation/donor-registries/national-donate-life-registry/