Full assessment before surgery
Corneal mapping, thickness measurement and a specular microscopy count of your inner cell layer to determine exactly which layers are damaged.
Corneal Transplant
Corneal Transplant
Corneal Transplant in Delhi
Restoring clarity when the cornea is scarred, swollen or damaged. 5,000+ corneal transplants performed at Neera Eye Centre, Darya Ganj — a HOTA-registered centre.
5,000+
Corneal transplants performed
HOTA registered
For corneal transplantation
Partial options
DALK, DSEK, DMEK available
Day care
For most partial transplants
Service Overview
The cornea is the clear front window of your eye. All light entering your eye passes through it first. If the cornea becomes scarred, swollen or cloudy — after an injury, a serious infection, keratoconus, or an inherited condition — light cannot pass through cleanly. Vision drops, and no strength of glasses can bring it back, because the problem is the window itself, not the focus. A corneal transplant (medically, keratoplasty) replaces the damaged cornea with healthy donor tissue. Here is what has changed, and what most people don't know: corneal transplantation is no longer all-or-nothing. In many cases only the diseased layer is replaced while your own healthy layers stay in place. That means fewer stitches, faster visual recovery and a substantially lower chance of rejection than the older full-thickness technique. Which type you need depends entirely on which layer of your cornea is affected.
What It Covers
Donor tissue co-ordination
Neera Eye Centre is HOTA-registered for corneal transplantation and works with recognised eye banks. All donor tissue is screened before use.
Choosing the right technique
Penetrating (full-thickness) or partial-thickness transplant — the decision is made by which layer is diseased, and always with the least invasive option that will work.
The transplant surgery
Performed in a modular operation theatre by a surgeon with over 5,000 corneal transplants of experience.
Long-term follow-up
Corneal transplants need structured monitoring for months, and stitch removal is staged over time. Follow-up is planned in advance.
Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK)
Full thickness: the entire cornea is replaced. Used when the cornea is damaged all the way through, such as after deep scarring or severe infection.
DALK — front layers only
Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty replaces damaged front layers while your own healthy inner layer is kept. Commonly used for keratoconus. Rejection risk drops significantly.
DSEK / DMEK — back layer only
Only the innermost layer is replaced, for swelling such as Fuchs' dystrophy. DMEK is the thinnest version and offers the quickest visual recovery.
Who It Is For
Corneal scarring
Vision reduced by scarring after an injury, ulcer or severe eye infection.
Advanced keratoconus
When the cornea has thinned and distorted too far for glasses, contact lenses or C3R to help.
Corneal swelling
A cornea that has become cloudy and waterlogged because the inner cell layer has failed, often causing vision that is worst in the morning.
How It Works
Full assessment
Mapping and cell counts show which layer is damaged, so we choose the least invasive transplant that will work.
Donor tissue and surgery
Screened donor cornea is placed in a modular OT. Partial-thickness work is often day-care; full-thickness needs closer early follow-up.
Staged healing
Stitches, if used, come out over months. You are taught the warning signs of rejection: redness, pain, light sensitivity and a drop in vision.
Why Choose Us
Corneal transplantation is among the most demanding procedures in ophthalmology, and the number of surgeons in Delhi doing it in real volume is small. Dr. Neera Agrawal has performed over 5,000 corneal transplants and completed a fellowship at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad — India's leading centre for corneal disease. Neera Eye Centre is HOTA-registered for corneal transplantation. Where partial-thickness surgery can achieve the result, that is what we do. Keeping your own healthy tissue in place is always the better outcome, even when it is the more technically difficult operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the donor cornea come from?
Donor corneas come from registered eye banks, donated by people who pledged their eyes during their lifetime or through family consent. All tissue is medically screened before it can be used. Neera Eye Centre is HOTA-registered for corneal transplantation.
Is there a waiting period for a donor cornea?
Usually yes, though it varies with the type of tissue needed and current availability at the eye banks. Urgent cases are prioritised. Your surgeon will explain the likely timeline for your specific requirement at your consultation.
Will my body reject the transplant?
Rejection is possible but not common, and it is usually treatable if reported early. Partial-thickness transplants such as DALK and DMEK carry a considerably lower rejection risk than full-thickness surgery. You will be taught the warning signs — redness, pain, light sensitivity and a drop in vision.
How long does it take to see clearly after a corneal transplant?
It depends on the technique. Back-layer transplants like DMEK and DSEK often give useful vision within weeks. Full-thickness transplants take considerably longer — often several months to a year — because stitches are removed gradually as the eye heals.
Does anything of the donor transfer to me — their eye colour or vision?
No. Only the clear front tissue is transplanted. Eye colour comes from the iris, which is not part of a corneal transplant and is never replaced. The donor's own vision or prescription has no effect whatsoever on your result.
Can keratoconus be treated without a transplant?
Very often, yes. If keratoconus is caught early, C3R cross-linking can stop it from progressing, and specialty contact lenses can restore functional vision. A transplant becomes necessary only in advanced cases. This is exactly why early diagnosis matters so much.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
Book a comprehensive eye evaluation. Our specialists will recommend the best course of action for your vision.