Corneal transplants have been around since the 1950s, and today the procedure is more common than ever before due to advances in technology that allow doctors to grow artificial corneas and improvements in surgical techniques. While the procedure seems simple on the surface, there are still plenty of misconceptions about it that lead many people to avoid it as an option when it’s actually their best bet. Here are some of the most common myths about corneal transplants, along with expert insights on whether they’re true or false.

5 Surprising Reasons Why You Need to Get a Corneal Transplant

Corneal transplants are becoming more and more common, and for good reason. Here are five surprising reasons why you may need to get a corneal transplant

 1. You Are Blind in One Eye: Vision loss in one eye is more common than most people think. It can be caused by a variety of reasons, from glaucoma to diabetes and age-related macular degeneration. If you lose vision in one eye, your other eye will compensate and make up for it—up to a point. Over time, however, that compensation decreases and you may experience blurry vision or double vision. A corneal transplant can help restore your vision so you can see clearly again.

4 Tips For Finding the Right Doctor

1. Ask around for recommendations. If you know someone who has had a corneal transplant, ask them who their doctor was and if they were happy with the results.

2. Do your research. Once you have a few names, look them up online and read reviews from other patients.

3. Make sure they are qualified. The doctor you choose should be certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

4. Ask about their experience. The doctor should have performed at least a few hundred transplants.

3 Things You Can Do In Advance To Help Recovery

·  Get a good night’s sleep before your surgery.

·  Eat a healthy meal to help your body heal.

·  Take a deep breath and relax- everything will be alright.

·  Follow your doctor’s orders- they know what’s best for you.

·  Stay positive and have faith in the process.

·  Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends when you need it.

·  Rest and give your body time to heal properly- rushing things will only make things worse in the long run

·  Don’t skip any follow-up appointments with your doctor.

2 Fears About Having a Corneal Transplant

1. One fear people may have about corneal transplants is that the surgery may be unsuccessful. While there is always a risk with any surgery, advances in medical technology have made corneal transplants much more successful than they used to be. The success rate for corneal transplants is now over 90%.

2. Another fear people may have about corneal transplants is that their vision will not be as good as it was before the surgery. While it is true that some people do experience some decrease in vision after a corneal transplant, the majority of people who have the surgery experience an improvement in vision.

 If you suffer from a severe corneal injury and are experiencing vision problems, contact your eye doctor to determine if a corneal transplant is right for you. In many cases, people who have already tried wearing glasses or contacts but still experience vision problems are good candidates for corneal transplants. If you decide to go through with a corneal transplant and it does not work, there is no harm in trying again later. Additionally, some types of eye injuries require multiple surgeries before success can be achieved. If your doctor recommends that you have more than one surgery, know that your second or third surgery has just as much chance of being successful as your first one did.

1 What Is A Stem Cell?

 

A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that has the ability to divide and renew itself. Stem cells are important because they can become specialized cells, such as blood cells, skin cells, or nerve cells. This process is called differentiation. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either become a new stem cell or differentiate into a specialized cell.

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