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Tijuana Eye Center
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World-Class Eye Surgery for Corneal Transplants in Tijuana, Mexico

Corneal Transplant

World-Class Eye Surgery for Medical Tourists in Tijuana, Mexico

Corneal Transplant

What is a Corneal Transplant?

The cornea is the tissue on the very front of the eye. It is clear and covers the iris and pupil. It works with the lens to provide focusing power to the eye. If the cornea becomes opaque, swollen, or scarred, vision is compromised.

Damage Control

Medication to control the damage to the cornea is usually the first line of treatment, but once it is clear that medication will not halt or alter the damage, a corneal transplant is considered. This surgical procedure involves the removal of the damaged tissue and replacement with a healthy, donated human cornea.

Because this procedure is a transplant of foreign tissue into the eye, rejection of the tissue by the immune system of the recipient is the greatest risk. However, drugs can be used to hold back the rejection reaction both before it occurs and even after the fact. The rejection rate for corneal transplants is between 5–10% at 10 years after surgery.

What are the benefits of corneal transplant surgery?

Corneal transplant surgery allows a patient to recover vision after suffering corneal opacity due to infection, inflammation or as a result of cataract surgery. Symptoms associated with corneal disease usually disappear after corneal transplant surgery.

Why Tijuana Eye Center achieves Eye Surgery Excellence

47+Years of Excellence

Established in 1977, we have more experience than any of our local competitors.

200k+Patients Treated

4x more patients than our closest competitor, with patients from across North America.

100k+Surgeries Performed

Unmatched surgical volume ensures our team's expertise in every procedure.

99.5%Success Rate

Industry-leading outcomes with the latest technology and proven techniques.

Why Tijuana Eye Center achieves Eye Surgery Excellence

47+Years of Excellence

Established in 1977, we have more experience than any of our local competitors.

200k+Patients Treated

4x more patients than our closest competitor, with patients from across North America.

100k+Surgeries Performed

Unmatched surgical volume ensures our team's expertise in every procedure.

99.5%Success Rate

Industry-leading outcomes with the latest technology and proven techniques.

Who is the ideal candidate for surgery?

Corneal damage from many different sources can be treated with a transplant. Some conditions that can result in a transplant are:

  • corneal failure after other eye surgery
  • keratoconus – a disease involving abnormal curvature of the cornea
  • inherited corneal diseases
  • scarring after infections – particularly herpes
  • rejection of a first transplant
  • scarring after a physical injury

Whatever the source of the damage, an ideal candidate has explored pharmaceutical treatments to these problems and they have been eliminated in their case. The vision from the diseased cornea should be so affected as to justify the risks inherent in a transplant procedure.

Cost Comparison

Corneal Transplants

All Prices & Savings

US average cost

$9000

Tijuana Eye Center

$6,999

All Prices & Savings

6 good reasons

Why Choose Us

Significant Cost Savings

Save 40-70% on eye care procedures compared to US prices without compromising on quality. Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Exceptional Quality

Board-certified ophthalmologists with US training, state-of-the-art equipment, and over 47 years of excellence in eye care.

Convenient Location

Just 15 minutes from the San Diego border crossing, making travel convenient for California residents and beyond.

English Speaking Staff

Our entire medical team and support staff are fluent in English, ensuring clear communication throughout your care.

Safety & Standards

Internationally accredited facility following strict safety protocols and maintaining the highest medical standards.

Comprehensive Care

Complete pre-operative evaluation, surgery, and post-operative care with coordinated follow-up support.

Frequent Questions

  • What experience do we have in Keratoconus and Intraocorneal Ring surgery?

    Clínica de Ojos de Tijuana was first ophthalmology center in Mexico and one of the first Worldwide to use intracorneal ring 10 years ago for keratoconus treatment.

    Today, we are a referral center for keratoconus patients in Mexico and the southwest United States for the treatment of this disease.

    We have performed this surgery in thousands of keratoconus patients with very good results.

  • What are the objectives with intracorneal ring surgery?

    The main goal of intracorneal ring surgery is stop or slow progression of keratoconus, delaying or avoiding the need for corneal transplant surgery. A secondary goal of surgery is to improve vision. Patients will notice a decrease in prescription size and an improvement in visual acuity.

    The advantage of corneal ring surgery is that it allows a fast visual recovery without a prolonged recovery time as is needed with a corneal transplant. Rehabilitation time usually takes approximately 3 months.

    

Nonetheless this surgery does not preclude the possibility of a future transplant surgery. If the intrastromal rings are not tolerated, they can be removed and the cornea will return to its original shape.

  • What risks or complications are associated during or after surgery?

    The risk of complications associated with this type of surgery is minimal. Intolerance to the intrastromal ring has been observed in less than 1% of patients. The risk of infection is reported in the medical literature to be 0.0001%.

How is a corneal transplant performed?

Surgery consists in replacement of the central corneal tissue with a trephine of varying diameters depending on the size of the eye, cornea and type of corneal disease. The donated corneal tissue is sutured in place, which will be removed once the cornea has healed and your doctor deems it necessary.

How long does surgery last?

The surgery lasts 30 to 40 minutes. Recovery time at the Clinic is around 3 hours. The procedure is ambulatory.

Will I have pain?

There is NO pain during surgery. The great majority of patients do no experience pain after surgery. Usual symptoms include slight burning sensation, and tearing. These symptoms usually subside after a couple of days.

What will happen after surgery?

After the surgery, you will be in recovery for about one to two hours. Once your vital signs are stable and are completely oriented, you will be discharged to go home or a hotel. A patch will be placed over the eye for a day. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops will be used during several weeks after surgery.
 It is important to not touch your eyes after surgery, you may not exercise or drive until the ophthalmologist authorizes such activities.

How will I know if I am a candidate for surgery?

In the later stages of keratoconus, several clinical signs are visible on examination. However, numerous information is not available on simple examination, such as keratoconus size, staging, corneal thinning, among other information necessary to determine if a patient is a candidate for corneal ring surgery. Elevation corneal topography should be performed in any patient with keratoconus.

What experience do we have in Corneal Transplant Surgery?

Corneal transplant surgery is a delicate surgery that is not practiced at by every ophthalmologist or at every ophthalmology clinic. This type of surgery requires specialized installations, training in management and logistics of corneal tissue, licensing permits by the state and federal health ministry and experience. The aforementioned will all contribute in one way or another to the success or failure of a corneal transplant surgery.

The Corneal Transplant Program at Clinica de Ojos de Tijuana has been in operation during the last 15 years. According to state officials from the Baja California State Transplant Commission during the years 2007 to 2010, Clinica de Ojos de Tijuana performed 70% of the corneal transplant in the State of Baja California. The success of corneal transplant surgery at Clinica de Ojos de Tijuana is over 95%. We have corneal specialists trained to perform corneal transplant surgery. They have also been certified by the APABO (PanAmerican Asociation of Eye Banks) in the management of eye banks and eye tissue.

What can I expect after surgery?

After surgery, you will be in the recovery area until you are discharged. You will be able to go home the same day. A patch will be placed over the eye, that will be removed the next day. Antibiotic and Anti-inflammatory eye drops will be used during the following days and weeks to help speed recovery.

It is important to avoid touching your eye after the surgery, avoid exercising and no driving during several weeks until your ophthalmologist authorizes such activities.

What is the recovery period like?

Recovery time is long lasting between 6 and 12 months to ensure proper wound healing.

It is important to look out for certain symptoms that could indicate a problem such as corneal rejection. These symptoms include sudden vision loss, redness, tearing pain and light sensitivity.

AFTER ONE DAY

What can I expect long term?

Vision will improve slowly over weeks and months. It is normal for prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to be prescribed once all stitches are removed.

AFTER ONE YEAR (left)

Key Points Summary
  • Corneal Strengthening: Increases the strength and stability of the cornea in patients with keratoconus.
  • Halts Progression of Keratoconus: Effective in stopping the progression of the condition, preventing further vision loss.
  • UV Light and Riboflavin: Procedure involves the application of riboflavin solution followed by UV light exposure to strengthen the cornea.
  • Early Intervention: Most effective when performed early in the disease’s progression.
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KEY

POINTS

we have everything medical health tourists need

Ready to transform your life and vision with expert eye surgery?

Join thousands of international patients who chose Tijuana Eye Center for their transformative eye surgery and get expert care, advanced technology, and significant savings in Tijuana, Mexico. Use our Live Chat below, or call us: +1 858 866 9295

Questions?

Tijuana Eye Center

Copyright Š 2025 Tijuana Eye Center. All Rights Reserved.Todos Los Derechos Reservados. ATENCION AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL Permiso COFEPRIS 203300201A0987 LS 17AM020040034 Responsable Sanitario Dr. Juan P. Rodriguez P. 4452528 Escuela Superior de Oftalmologia del Instituto Barraquer de America.

we have everything medical health tourists need

Ready to transform your life and vision with expert eye surgery?

Join thousands of international patients who chose Tijuana Eye Center for their transformative eye surgery and get expert care, advanced technology, and significant savings in Tijuana, Mexico. Use our Live Chat below, or call us: +1 858 866 9295

Questions?

Tijuana Eye Center

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