Corneal transplant (DALK and DMEK) in India
A damaged cornea is replaced with donor tissue, either all layers or only the affected ones.
At a glance
- Type
- Transplant
- Typical procedure time
- About 1–2 hours
- Typical hospital stay
- Day-care to 2 days
- Time to plan in India
- Several weeks with reviews
These are broad, typical ranges for planning a trip. Your doctor sets the real plan for you, and it can be shorter or longer.
When people ask about it
- Corneal scarring, keratoconus or swelling that glasses cannot correct
Whether it suits you is a decision for a doctor who has examined you and seen your results.
How it usually works
- Eligibility and legal approvalDoctors assess whether a transplant could help you and your donor's suitability; authorisation steps required by law are completed.
- Work-up and matchingDetailed tests check your fitness, infections and tissue match with the donor.
- Admission and the operationYou and, where relevant, your donor are admitted and the transplant is performed.
- Intensive recoveryYour body is closely monitored for rejection and infection, with anti-rejection medicines started.
- Staying near the centreFrequent tests and clinic visits continue for weeks to months before you can return home.
- Long-term follow-upLifelong medicines and monitoring are planned with a doctor in your home country.
Recovery and follow-up
- Eye drops continue for months or years to prevent rejection.
- Vision improves over months.
- Donor tissue availability can cause waiting.
Every procedure carries risks, and they differ from person to person. Ask your doctor to explain the risks that apply to you before you decide.
What affects the cost
We do not publish prices we cannot stand behind. The total depends on you, the hospital and the doctor. After a doctor has reviewed your records, you receive an itemised written estimate before you decide anything.
- The hospital and transplant team
- The donor work-up and tests for both people
- Intensive care and hospital days
- Anti-rejection medicines, which continue for years
- The long stay near the centre afterwards
- Travel and accommodation for both patient and donor
Documents to prepare
- Full medical history and all test reports
- Documents showing the relationship between donor and recipient, as required by law
- Identity and address proof for both people, as the hospital requests
- Blood group and tissue-typing reports if available
- Passport and visa documents for everyone travelling
Travel and stay
- Expect a long stay near the hospital, often several months, and plan accommodation for a carer.
- Confirm the legal approvals before booking flights.
- Arrange how your anti-rejection medicines and blood tests will be managed at home.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Which technique suits my cornea?
- What is the chance of rejection and how will I recognise it?
- What is the exact diagnosis and how serious is it?
- Which options exist, including no treatment?
Also known as
- Keratoplasty
- Eye transplant
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Read the planning guidePlanning information only. This page gives general information to help you prepare questions and plan a trip. It does not diagnose, recommend a treatment or promise an outcome, a price or the availability of a doctor or hospital. Figures are broad, typical ranges and vary from person to person. Only a doctor who has examined you can say what is right for you. This page was prepared by Prognova's editorial team and has not yet been reviewed by a licensed clinician.