Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting or penetrating keratoplasty, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by a donated corneal tissue, which has been removed from a recently deceased individual having no known diseases which might affect the viability of the donated tissue. Only the central portion of the cornea is involved in transplantation .The surgeon excises an appropriate circular disc of the patient's cornea and replaces it with a similarly sized disc of donor cornea, which is then sutured into place.

Corneas for transplant come from individuals who have donated their eyes for use after their death ,for the benefit of others. Donor corneal tissue can be used up to maximum of 4 days after the death of the donor depending on the modality of preservation. This includes screening for AIDS . With a few exception, donor tissue up to age seventy years is usable. Factors such as sex, color of the iris, previous vision of the donor have no influence on the final outcome of the surgery. anyone wishing to be an eye donor should call the nearest Eye bank and pledge the same.

As with any eye surgery, there is the possibility of loss of sight in the eye, loss of the entire eye or possible loss of life due to abnormal reactions to anesthesia. The risks are very small, but it is very important that you be aware that risks exist as with ant other surgical procedure. Although cornea transplants are highly successful, unfortunately there can be no guarantees with corneal transplant surgery, just as there can be no guarantees with any other type of surgery. Some of the possible complications that could occur are infection, bleeding, glaucoma, a wound leak, poor wound healing, and failure or rejection of the transplant. If a transplant should fail, it does not mean blindness or loss of the eye. Rather a subsequent transplant may be performed with a good chance of success.