The patient's own diseased or damaged cornea is removed with a cylindrical cutting instrument. The donor's cornea is cut similarly so the shapes are indentical. The clear, healthy donor cornea is placed in the opening where the patient's old cornea was removed. After surgery the patient's eye is patched with eye pads and covered with a hard plastic shield to protect it from injury. The day after the surgery the ophthalmologist examines the eye and then usually puts the patch back on.
Many patients are able to open their eyes and notice visual improvements immediately.
The patient will be instructed onhow to use the necesary medications, which may be ointments or eye drops, and given a treatment schedule to follow. The early recovery period will vary widely between individuals but for many it will generaly vary between one to three weeks following surgery. During this time the patient should aviod rubbing their eyes. Any activity that will increase blood presure to the head or the eye should also be avoided eg. It is also very important for patients to keep every follow-up appointment with their doctor throughout the recovery period and to use medication exactly as prescribed.