PostOp Eyes

Corneal Transplant Day 1: What to Expect

General information about typical recovery, not medical advice. Every eye and every surgery is different, and your surgeon's instructions override anything on this page. Read our full disclaimer.

You go back to your ophthalmologist's office the day after surgery to have the eye checked. This visit is standard for every type of corneal transplant, and it is not a sign that anything is wrong.

Vision on day 1 is usually very cloudy or milky in the operated eye, whatever type of graft you had. If you had DSAEK or DMEK there is a bubble of air or gas in the eye holding the graft in place, and you may see a dark curved edge that moves when you move your head. The surgeon is checking that the graft is lying flat and that the bubble is not pushing your eye pressure up.

Expect soreness, watering, and light sensitivity. Use the drops exactly on the schedule you were given. If you were told to lie face up, day 1 is usually the strictest day for that.

Usually normal at this stage

  • very blurry or cloudy vision
  • gritty or scratchy feeling
  • watering
  • light sensitivity
  • redness
  • a dark shifting edge in your vision from the air bubble (DSAEK/DMEK)

Still off-limits

  • no driving; someone else takes you to the day 1 visit
  • do not press on or rub the eye
  • wear the shield or glasses for protection as instructed
  • use prescribed drops exactly as directed
  • lie on your back if your surgeon gave you positioning instructions
  • no flying or high altitude travel while a bubble is in the eye without surgeon approval

More on corneal transplant recovery

Sources