The cornea is the clear outer lens on the front of the eye. A corneal transplant is surgery to replace the cornea with tissue from a donor.

A corneal transplant is recommended for people who have vision problems caused by thinning of the cornea. A transplant may be considered when less invasive treatments are not an option.

Corneal transplant may also be an option if you have scarring of your cornea from severe infections or injuries, or if you have vision loss caused by cloudiness of the cornea.

Corneal Transplants at Wake Forest Baptist

The Wake Forest Baptist Health Eye Center is a national leader in corneal transplants, particularly Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK).

For this procedure, our ophthalmologists developed the FDA-approved EndoSerter, a hand-held instrument that transplants tissue more quickly, with smaller incisions and no sutures.

Corneal Transplant Alternatives

We’re one of only a few eye centers in the United States that perform corneal keratoprosthesis — artificial corneal implants. It’s sometimes the best option for patients with difficult-to-treat corneal diseases, after standard corneal transplants have failed.

For patients not ready for a corneal transplant, our specialists also offer Intacs® corneal implants, for when vision can no longer be corrected by glasses or contact lenses.