Eye
Cornea
Corneal transplantation & graft failure
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 October 2013
Last staff update: 21 April 2021
Copyright: 2004-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Transplantation of cornea [title] pathology
Cite this page: Pernick N. Corneal transplantation & graft failure. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/eyecorneatransplant.html. Accessed April 24th, 2024.
Corneal transplantation
- Keratoplasty (corneal transplantation):
- Produces button 8 mm in diameter
- Indications for keratoplasty:
- Primary and secondary endothelial decompensation (dystrophy)
- Fibrosis
- Vascularization
- Keratoconus
- Failed prior grafts
- Interstitial keratitis
- Penetrating keratoplasty:
- Full thickness corneal graft
- 8 mm in diameter
- Lamellar keratoplasty:
- Partial thickness corneal graft
- Donor corneal scleral rim:
- Want to check for endothelial damage
Graft failure
- Most corneal transplants are successful and provide long term improvement in visual acuity
- Matching of donor and recipient tissue is not necessary for corneal transplants since no lymphatics or blood vessels in corneal stroma
- Graft failure may be due to surgical damage of endothelium, immunologic rejection (uncommon) or recurrence of dystrophy
Microscopic (histologic) description
Graft failure:
- Fibrosis, vascularization, inflammatory cell infiltrate
- Full thickness scars from prior surgery are present at edge of specimen
- 50% have fibrous retrocorneal membrane
