Corneal Transplant Surgery
This handout tells you how to take care of yourself when you go home after corneal transplant surgery. Your nurse will review this with you. Please ask questions.
Pain
You may take 2 Tylenol® tablets every 4 hours until you go to bed tonight. This should decrease the mild pain you may have as the numbing medicine you received wears off.
Eye Drops
Bring the eye drops prescribed for you to your clinic visit. The day after surgery, a nurse will explain the proper way to give drops. See Eye Drops Health Facts for You #4520.
Eye Patch
Leave your eye patch and shield in place. These will be removed when you are seen in the clinic the next day. After that, you must always wear your glasses or the metal shield to protect your eye until it heals. When you lie down to nap or sleep, wear your metal shield until you are told you may stop using it. No soft patch under the shield is needed.
Diet
Resume your normal diet.
Resume any and all usual medicines as you return home on the day of surgery
Activities
- You may resume all daily living tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, and bending over.
- For the first 3 – 4 weeks, do not do any strenuous activities such as jogging, racquetball, tennis, exercise, or square dancing.
- Corneal transplant patients should not lift more than 30 pounds for one month.
- You may use the shower or bathtub and wash your hair.
- Reading or watching T.V. or movies will not strain your treated eye.
- Take care that your treated eye is not bumped.
- For two months, do not swim with your head under water.
- You may resume sexual activities when you feel ready.
When to Call the Doctor
- New or increased drainage from the treated eye
- Increased or a change in eye pain
- Increased redness of the eye
- Decreased clearness of vision in the treated eye
- If you have any questions
Early attention to problems often results in simple, successful treatment so don’t delay. Postponing a call or visit may lead to worse problems.
Phone Numbers
University Station Eye Clinic, 8:00 to 4:30, at (608) 263-7171 and ask to speak to a nurse.
Nights, weekends, and holidays call (608) 263-7171. If you live out of the area, call 1-800-323-8942. Ask for the Eye Resident or the corneal fellow on-call. Give the operator your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
Appointments
Doctor_______________________________________Date_________________
Time________________
Place_____________________________________________________________
The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #6580.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 07/12/2011
Copyright © 07/12/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4557
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