Fitting contact lenses after corneal transplantation can be one of the greatest challenges to the contact lens specialist. There is no particular type that is ideal to fit these complicated eyes although RGP lenses are the most common type used.

Corneal transplantation is a surgical procedure by which the damaged cornea is removed and replaced by the donor clear cornea.

PK (Penetrating Keratoplasty) is a full thickness graft, where the entire thickness of the central part of your cornea is removed.
DLK (Deep Lamellar Keratoplasty) is a partial thickness graft leaving the bottom half of your own cornea intact and replacing the top half with the new one.

Despite advances in surgical techniques, high irregular astigmatism, myopia and hypermetropia still remain common after surgery.

Up to 10% of patients undergoing corneal transplantation will benefit from a contact lens for optimum vision.

The most common diagnosis eventually leading to transplantation is keratoconus; 15-20% of the keratoconic patients will need a transplant. Up to 25% of these patients may require a contact lens correction after surgery, usually a rigid gas permeable lens for optimum vision.

A study performed by Smiddy et all (1988) showed that 69% of the patients referred for corneal transplantation could be successfully fitted with a contact lens avoiding surgery.

Therefore your contact lens specialist should evaluate all contact lens options including scleral lenses before referring you for surgery.

In our practice we use all type of contact lenses including scleral lenses to offer patients that had undergone corneal transplantation the best possible visual correction.

It is our duty to provide you with the latest designs and materials for comfortable contact lens wear always respecting the health of the corneal transplant.