Keratoplasty

Keratoplasty, also known as corneal transplant surgery, is a procedure performed to replace a damaged or diseased cornea with healthy donor tissue. The cornea is essential for focusing light onto the retina and maintaining clear vision. When it becomes cloudy, scarred, or severely misshapen—due to conditions like keratoconus, corneal infections, trauma, or dystrophies—vision becomes impaired and a transplant may be required.

There are several types of keratoplasty, including penetrating keratoplasty (PK), which replaces the entire corneal thickness, and lamellar keratoplasty such as DALK or DMEK, which target specific layers of the cornea. The choice of technique depends on the extent and location of corneal damage.