Ophthalmology and Corneal Transplantation

Clear information matters when you are choosing care for an eye condition. MPGCARE coordinates ophthalmology enquiries and appointments with partner Medical Park and Liv Hospital hospitals in Türkiye. Depending on your diagnosis, the receiving hospital confirms the appropriate eye specialist and available assessment, treatment and follow-up services.
This page covers common eye diseases and provides a detailed guide to corneal transplantation. A corneal transplant replaces damaged corneal tissue; it is not a whole-eye transplant and cannot treat every cause of poor vision. Your ophthalmologist assesses the entire eye before recommending a procedure.

Eye diseases and corneal conditions

The same symptom can have different causes. The examples below explain reasons for specialist assessment; they do not establish a diagnosis or mean that every patient needs surgery.

Disease or condition	What it means	What to discuss at the consultation
Keratoconus	Progressive corneal thinning and distortion can affect vision. Glasses, specialist lenses or cross-linking may be considered; selected advanced cases need transplantation.	Bring corneal maps and your lens history. Ask whether the aim is to control progression, improve vision or evaluate a transplant.
Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy	Failure of inner corneal cells causes swelling and blurred vision. An endothelial transplant may be considered when disease significantly affects sight.	Ask which corneal layers are affected and whether DMEK or DSAEK is appropriate. Provide previous surgery and examination records.
Corneal scars and opacities	Scarring after infection or injury can reduce corneal transparency. Treatment depends on depth, location and the condition of the remaining eye.	Discuss how much of the visual difficulty comes from the cornea and whether a partial- or full-thickness graft could help.
Corneal edema and bullous keratopathy	Corneal swelling from endothelial dysfunction can blur vision and cause discomfort, sometimes after previous eye surgery.	Bring the operation report and current drops. Ask how the cause will be assessed and whether transplantation is suitable.
Corneal infection and ulceration	Corneal infection can damage the eye and needs prompt assessment. Severe damage may sometimes require a therapeutic transplant.	Do not delay urgent local care for travel. Give the treating team existing culture results, treatment details and contact-lens history.
Previous corneal graft rejection or failure	A graft can lose clarity through rejection or other causes. A specialist must determine the cause before considering further treatment or a repeat graft.	Provide the first operation report, follow-up records and full drop history. Ask about risk factors and realistic options for the affected eye.
Cataract	Clouding of the eye’s natural lens can cause blur and glare. Surgery replaces the lens when indicated; it is different from corneal transplantation.	Discuss daily visual difficulties and other eye disease. Ask whether cataract treatment should be planned separately or alongside another procedure.
Glaucoma	Damage to the optic nerve can threaten vision. Pressure-lowering drops, laser or surgery may help control disease; established damage is generally irreversible.	Bring pressure measurements, visual fields and optic-nerve imaging. Ask about your target pressure and continuing follow-up.
Diabetic retinopathy	Diabetes can damage retinal blood vessels. The stage and complications influence whether monitoring, injections, laser or surgery is considered.	Provide retinal images and diabetes treatment details. Discuss eye monitoring and coordination with the clinician managing your diabetes.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)	Disease of the central retina can affect detailed vision. Dry and wet forms need different assessment and management.	Bring OCT and previous treatment records. Ask which form is present and how changes in vision should be monitored.
Retinal tears and retinal detachment	Separation of the retina can cause permanent sight loss. New flashes, floaters or a curtain-like shadow need urgent assessment.	Seek urgent local eye care rather than waiting for a travel appointment. Share any recent eye surgery or injury history.
Dry eye disease	Problems with tear production or tear quality can cause irritation and fluctuating vision. Treatment is tailored to the eye surface.	Describe triggers, current drops and contact-lens use. Ask whether the eye surface needs treatment before another procedure.

Corneal transplantation: when is it considered?
The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. A transplant may be considered when corneal disease causes visual disability, persistent pain or severe structural damage that cannot be managed adequately with other options. The goal may be improved vision, relief of discomfort or preservation of the eye’s integrity.
Ask the surgeon to explain the objective for your particular eye and the alternatives. A transplant recommendation should consider the retina, optic nerve, eye surface, previous operations and your ability to attend follow-up. A clear graft does not guarantee normal vision if other parts of the eye are affected.

Assessment before a corneal transplant
Ask which examinations are needed to establish the affected layers and expected visual potential. The review may include vision testing, a slit-lamp examination, corneal imaging or thickness assessment, eye pressure and examination of the back of the eye. Previous findings help the specialist decide what needs repeating.
Tell the hospital about prior infection, trauma, glaucoma, earlier grafts, current drops and contact-lens wear. Ask whether surface disease or inflammation needs attention before surgery and what records are needed for a meaningful second opinion.

PK, DALK, DMEK and DSAEK: understanding the differences

Transplant method	Which tissue is replaced?	Questions for the corneal surgeon
Penetrating keratoplasty (PK)	A central full-thickness section of cornea is replaced with donor tissue and secured with fine stitches.	Ask why all layers need replacing and how stitches, astigmatism and later optical correction will be managed.
Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)	Diseased front and middle corneal tissue is replaced while preserving the patient’s healthy inner lining. It can suit selected keratoconus or scarred corneas.	Ask whether your inner layer is healthy, how suitable the anatomy is and whether conversion to a full-thickness graft may become necessary during surgery.
Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK)	Only the very thin inner membrane and endothelial cells are replaced. An air or gas bubble supports attachment.	Discuss suitability for endothelial disease, positioning instructions and the possibility of another procedure to improve graft attachment.
Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK)	The donor graft includes endothelial cells, their membrane and a thin layer of supporting stroma. An air or gas bubble holds it in position.	Ask why this technique is preferred for your eye, how it compares with DMEK and what early monitoring is needed.

Which method is right for my eye?
The choice follows the diseased layers, the eye’s anatomy and previous procedures. A method that suits one patient may be inappropriate for another. Your corneal surgeon should explain why the proposed operation matches your diagnosis and the alternatives.
Ask whether additional cataract or glaucoma treatment is being considered and whether it would be combined with transplantation or staged. The hospital confirms which procedures it can offer after reviewing your case; every technique is not available at every center.

Donor tissue, timing and practical arrangements
Corneal transplantation uses tissue from a deceased donor that is assessed before use. Availability and the receiving hospital’s arrangements affect scheduling. Do not assume that donor tissue or an operation date is confirmed simply because an appointment has been requested.
Ask the hospital to confirm tissue arrangements, proposed dates, preparation and the pathway if surgery is postponed. MPGCARE helps coordinate communication and travel logistics; the hospital is responsible for clinical suitability and the transplant process.

Preparing for surgery and anesthesia
Request written instructions about arrival, fasting if required, medicines and eye drops. Tell the team about allergies, blood-thinning medicines, other health conditions and previous anesthesia experiences. Do not stop prescribed treatment independently.
Ask which anesthesia is planned, whether a companion is needed, how long you may need to remain near the hospital and how early checks will be scheduled. Your consent discussion should cover the purpose, alternatives and individual risks.

What are the risks and limitations?
Possible problems include rejection, infection, pressure changes, graft failure, astigmatism and the need for further surgery. In endothelial procedures the graft may detach and require an additional air/gas injection, often called rebubbling. Risk depends on the eye and technique.
Ask which risks are most relevant in your case and how they will be monitored. No universal success rate, guaranteed vision level or fixed recovery date applies to all patients.

Eye drops and follow-up after transplantation
Use prescribed drops exactly as instructed. Steroid drops may be required long term to reduce rejection risk; the team also monitors eye pressure. Do not stop or change them without advice from your ophthalmologist.
Before discharge, obtain a written drop schedule, a plan for refills and follow-up dates. Confirm who will check the graft after you return home and how the local ophthalmologist can contact the operating team.

Graft rejection: symptoms requiring urgent review
New or increasing redness, pain, light sensitivity or reduced vision after a transplant needs urgent ophthalmic assessment. Rejection can occur long after surgery; waiting for a routine appointment can endanger the graft.
If the surgical team cannot be reached promptly, use urgent local eye services. Do not diagnose rejection yourself or adjust steroid doses based on online information. Carry your transplant details and medication list.

Visual recovery, stitches and daily activities
Vision usually improves gradually and the time course varies with the graft type. Glasses or contact lenses may still be needed. In stitched grafts, removal is planned by the surgeon rather than performed on a universal schedule.
Ask for individual instructions about eye protection, avoiding rubbing, bathing, work, exercise and driving. Clarify when a new glasses or lens assessment is appropriate and what changes should trigger an earlier check.

Air or gas in the eye: flights and return travel
If an air or gas bubble is present, do not fly or travel to high altitude until the surgeon confirms that the bubble is gone and travel is safe. Follow any prescribed head-positioning instructions. Inform other medical teams that a bubble is present before anesthesia.
Do not book a fixed return flight based on a general recovery estimate. Discuss early graft checks, positioning and the clearance date with the operating team before finalizing travel.

Documents for corneal transplant assessment
Prepare your diagnosis, which eye is affected, symptoms, current vision measurements and current drops. Include corneal maps, thickness measurements, endothelial-cell results if available, previous operation reports and relevant retinal or glaucoma records. Not all of these tests need to be arranged before the specialist reviews your case.
Explain whether you are asking for first assessment, comparison of transplant methods or a second opinion after a previous graft. Share medical records through the agreed secure channel.

Costs, length of stay and continuing care
After clinical review, ask for a written proposal and clarify tissue-related arrangements, surgeon and hospital fees, examinations, medicines and follow-up. Ask how additional treatment or a change in plan would be handled.
The stay in Türkiye and long-term recovery are different timelines. Plan enough time for the early reviews recommended for your operation and identify who will provide continuing eye care at home.

Free patient transfers
MPGCARE offers free transfers between Sarp and Trabzon for patients arriving by land and free airport-to-hospital transfers for patients arriving by air. Coordinate the destination, arrival time and accompanying person with our team when arranging the appointment.
Arrange your return journey in line with the ophthalmologist’s instructions, particularly if an intraocular bubble limits travel. Routine transfers do not replace medically supervised transport when needed.

Plan your eye or corneal consultation
Tell MPGCARE your age, diagnosis, affected eye, available reports and preferred dates. We help coordinate assessment with an appropriate partner hospital and explain the next steps. The receiving team confirms whether corneal transplantation or another form of eye care is suitable.

Medical information sources: NHS: corneal transplantation · NEI: eye diseases · CUH: transplant care · Royal Free: postoperative care and travel

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