Seeing clearly again, recognizing the faces of loved ones, or regaining the autonomy to carry out daily activities can represent a huge change in a person’s life. For those who suffer from certain eye diseases or injuries, corneal transplant can offer an opportunity to regain vision and improve their quality of life.
In Argentina, advances in surgical techniques allow for increasingly precise interventions, which in some cases replace only the diseased part of the cornea and preserve healthy tissue. Nevertheless, behind every transplant there is something indispensable: donation.
According to statistics from the National Central Unique Coordinator of Ablation and Transplant (INCUCAI), during 2026 more than 4,600 tissue transplants were carried out in the country, of which more than 1,400 corresponded to corneas.
These figures reflect the importance of ocular tissue donation and the impact it can have on people who need to recover their visual ability.
What is a corneal transplant and when is it needed
The cornea is the transparent tissue that covers the front part of the eye. It plays a fundamental role: it allows light to enter and helps to focus it correctly so that we can see clearly. When it loses its transparency, becomes deformed, or suffers significant damage, vision can be seriously compromised.
In some cases, when other treatments do not offer sufficient results, it is necessary to replace the affected tissue through a transplant.
“Pathologies such as advanced keratoconus, scars produced by ulcers or trauma, and tissue decompensation are the most frequent causes for which we reach the indication of a graft or transplant. For these patients, this intervention is the only option to recover their autonomy,” explains Dr. Nicolás Charles, cornea specialist and co-medical director of Charles Centro Oftalmológico.
Among the diseases that may require this intervention is keratoconus, a condition that causes thinning and progressive deformation of the cornea, altering the quality of vision.
People who present scars from infections, injuries, or alterations that affect tissue transparency may also need a transplant. The indication depends on a specialized ophthalmologic evaluation, since not all vision problems require this type of surgery.
How a corneal transplant is performed: the techniques that allow vision to be restored
Corneal transplant surgery has evolved considerably in recent years. While traditionally the entire thickness of the cornea was replaced, there are now procedures that intervene only in the affected layers. One technique is penetrating keratoplasty, which consists of replacing the entire corneal thickness with healthy donor tissue.
Another option is lamellar transplants, high-precision procedures in which only certain layers of the cornea are replaced. This latter possibility allows preserving part of the patient’s healthy tissue and, depending on the disease and the technique used, can favor faster recovery and reduce some surgical risks.
The choice of procedure depends on the diagnosis, the state of the cornea, and the needs of each person.
Although results can be very favorable, visual recovery is not always immediate: it can take several months and requires medical follow-ups to detect possible complications, such as rejection of the transplanted tissue.
Who can donate corneas: myths worth debunking
One of the aspects specialists seek to raise awareness about is that having worn glasses or having vision problems does not necessarily mean that a person cannot donate their corneas.
There is a belief that only those who had perfect vision can become donors, but this is not true. People with myopia, astigmatism, or a history of wearing glasses can be potential corneal tissue donors. There is also no single age that automatically determines the possibility of donation.
What matters is that professionals assess the tissue conditions and determine whether it is suitable for use.
Another fact that many people do not know is that a donor can help restore the vision of up to two people, since each cornea can be allocated to a different recipient. In addition, the ablation procedure is performed under specific medical protocols and with respect for the donor’s body, without visibly altering their appearance.
What the Justina Law says about cornea donation in Argentina
Since 2018, Argentina has the Justina Law (Law 27.447), which states that all people over 18 years old are considered donors of organs and tissues after death, unless they have explicitly expressed the wish not to be.
The regulation marked an important change for the country’s donation and transplant system. However, specialists emphasize that it remains essential to discuss this topic with our loved ones.
“Today the law protects us and assumes that we are all donors, but the true act of solidarity and empathy is to talk about the issue at the family table. Clearing taboos while alive is what allows the family, when the moment comes, to experience the ablation process with peace and accompany the protocol without fears or misinformation,” notes Dr. Charles.
Although an adult’s explicit decision should be respected, talking about donation can help their surroundings know their wishes and navigate a difficult moment with greater calm.
The will to donate (or not) can be recorded through officially enabled channels, such as the Mi Argentina app, INCUCAI, and other authorized bodies.
Donating corneas: a charitable gesture that can transform two lives
Behind every transplant lies a different story. People who progressively lost their sight, patients who suffered ocular injuries or diseases, and families who accompany recovery processes.
For many of them, receiving a cornea can mean resuming activities that were difficult before, regaining independence, and improving their daily well-being.
Advances in medicine enable increasingly specialized surgeries, but none would be possible without the availability of donated tissues.
That is why, in addition to informing about the possibilities offered by transplantation, professionals emphasize the need to break down prejudices and promote conversations about donation.
Because donating corneas is much more than enabling a medical intervention: it is offering another person an opportunity to see the world more clearly.
Source: Dr. Nicolás Charles, cornea and refractive surgery specialist.
