Cornea

Transplant or Implant

Some people often confuse "transplant" and "implant." "Implant" generally refers to a plastic object put into the eye such as an intraocular lens following the removal of a cataract. This can either be done at the time of cataract surgery, or in the case of a patient who has had cataract surgery without an implant and has been wearing thick spectacles (cataract glasses) or contact lenses, the intraocular lens can be inserted months or years later as a secondary surgical procedure. "Transplant" refers to living tissue moved from one area to another, usually one human to another. "Graft" is another word that is frequently used that means "transplant."

In a corneal transplant, the central part of an abnormal cornea is removed and replaced with healthy corneal tissue from a donor. Donor corneas are obtained from an undamaged eye of someone who has died. Donor refers to the person giving his/her cornea. The recipient is the person with an abnormal cornea who is to receive the transplant.