This will be replaced by the clear donor cornea which will have been treated prior to surgery with an antibiotic solution. The grafted cornea will be sewn with very fine stitches which may stay in place for up to two years. The cornea can take at least a year to heal completely and this governs the time stitches will need to remain in place. After surgery, the operated eye will be covered with an eye pad and protective plastic eye shield. This will be removed the day after the operation and normal activities may be resumed as and when the individual feels able to do so.
Return home is usually within a few days of the corneal graft.
Immediately following the operation sight will probably be blurred. The eye may water and be sensitive to light. You will not have clear and useful sight immediately and for the first few months after the graft the healing process can cause sight fluctuations. Corneas vary in shape and sometimes the shape of the donor cornea is different from the one it replaces. Glasses or contact lenses may be prescribed to correct the difference.