If your corneal transplant has healed but your glasses still leave things blurred or distorted, there may be more we can do to help your vision. A graft replaces damaged corneal tissue, but the healed surface can remain uneven. Specialised contact lenses can help correct this irregularity when glasses are not enough. Needing a lens does not, by itself, mean the transplant has failed. 1
The right lens and the right time to fit it depend on your graft, healing and eye health. Corneal rigid gas permeable (RGP), scleral and hybrid designs each have a role in selected eyes. 2
At Vision Camberwell Optometrists, we assess your vision, map the corneal shape and work with your ophthalmologist on a fitting plan. Your surgeon continues to oversee graft health and surgical treatment; we look after the contact lens side of your care.
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Why can vision remain blurred after a transplant?
A corneal graft, also called a corneal transplant or keratoplasty, may leave astigmatism as the tissue heals and sutures influence its shape. If the surface is irregular, light does not focus evenly and glasses may not fully sharpen the image. A large prescription difference between the eyes can also make glasses difficult to tolerate. 2
Not every change in vision is a prescription problem. Graft swelling, inflammation or another eye condition may need medical treatment rather than a different lens. We check the eye as well as the prescription before recommending a fitting. 1
Which contact lenses may help after a corneal graft?
Corneal RGP lenses
These smaller rigid lenses sit on the cornea and provide a more regular optical surface. A graft may need a specialised back surface design (including reverse geometry), to accommodate the transition between donor tissue and the surrounding cornea. Good vision is only part of the assessment; the lens must also sit and move appropriately. Read more about custom RGP lenses. 2
Scleral lenses
A scleral lens is larger and rests on the white part of the eye, vaulting over the cornea with fluid underneath. It can be useful when a smaller lens does not centre well or is difficult to tolerate. In a UC Davis study of 48 post graft eyes, scleral lenses improved average best corrected vision, although some people discontinued wear, including because of handling difficulties. The result is encouraging, not a promise that every graft will suit this lens. See our scleral lens fitting and fees page for what a fitting involves. 3
Hybrid lenses
Hybrid lenses combine a rigid centre with a soft outer skirt. They are another option in selected post graft eyes, but the design still needs to suit the graft and surrounding tissue. They are not automatically safer or more comfortable than other designs. Read more about hybrid contact lenses. 2
We will explain the options that make sense for your eye. You can also read about our scleral lens care or our broader keratoconus services.
When can fitting start?
We start only when your ophthalmologist agrees the eye is ready. Timing varies with the type of graft, healing, sutures and the need for useful vision during recovery. Some eyes can be fitted while sutures remain, with careful monitoring. Others need more time. There is no single month after surgery that is right for everyone. 2
Tell us if your surgeon plans to remove or adjust stitches. We will coordinate the timing and explain the possibility of a later lens change, rather than assuming the first fitting will be permanent.
What happens at your fitting and reviews?
Assessing the graft and trialling lenses
We review your surgical history, test vision, and examine the eye. Corneal imaging helps us understand its shape. Trial lenses then allow us to assess the fit, visual improvement and comfort, before ordering a customised design. Bring your surgeon’s latest letter so we can take the current treatment plan into account.
Checking more than clarity
A comfortable lens does not remove the need to monitor graft health. Research involving Queensland University of Technology found more corneal swelling after scleral lens wear in post transplant eyes than in healthy comparison eyes. Lens design, fit and the eye’s response therefore need attention, even when vision seems good. 4
Our reviews check how the lens behaves on your eye, your wearing time and any change in the graft or eye surface. We will explain adjustments, handling and care, and arrange ophthalmologist reviews when findings need surgical input.
Keeping surgical follow up
Contact lens appointments do not replace your graft reviews. Continue prescribed drops, including steroid drops, unless your treating ophthalmologist changes the instructions. Do not stop them because the eye feels comfortable or a new lens is working well. 5
Changes that need urgent attention
Contact your surgical team the same day if you develop a red or painful eye, new light sensitivity or reduced vision. These can be signs of graft rejection or another urgent problem. Remove a vision correcting contact lens and do not reinsert it while seeking advice. If your surgical team cannot be reached, seek urgent eye care. 5
New or persistent lens discomfort also deserves a prompt call. Do not simply push through it or assume it is normal adaptation in a grafted eye.
Planning your post graft lens assessment
Before your appointment:
- Bring the operation details, your surgeon’s latest letter and any previous corneal scans.
- Bring current glasses, contact lenses and the products you use to care for them.
- List prescribed eye drops and any planned suture removal or surgical review.
- Ask us whether to wear your lens to the visit or leave it out for scanning.
Vision Camberwell Optometrists is at 784 Burke Road, Camberwell, serving Melbourne’s inner east, including Hawthorn, Balwyn, Kew, Canterbury and beyond. Consultations with Jue Wang are available in English and Mandarin.
To discuss a post graft lens assessment, call 03 9882 5666 or contact our team. Let us know when and where you had surgery so we can plan the visit around your care. Surgeons and optometrists can refer directly through our referral page. For the full care pathway, see our guide to keratoconus treatment options.
Questions about lenses after a corneal transplant
Can I be fitted years after my transplant?
Yes, an older graft can still be assessed for contact lenses. Research includes people fitted long after surgery. The deciding factors are the current health and shape of the eye, not simply how many years have passed. 6
What if I cannot manage insertion and removal?
Tell us before ordering. We can assess handling during the fitting process, teach the technique and discuss suitable aids or another correction option. A lens needs to work in everyday life, not just give a clear result in the consulting room.
Will everyone need a contact lens after a graft?
No. Some people manage well with glasses. A specialty lens is worth considering when glasses do not provide enough useful vision and the eye is suitable for lens wear. 1,2
Can a scleral lens harm my graft?
Scleral lenses can help vision, but they are not risk free. Mechanical stress from an unsuitable fit, limited oxygen delivery and corneal swelling are reasons for careful lens design, controlled wearing time and ongoing review. Do not extend wearing time without discussing it with your clinician. 4
References
- NHS. Cornea transplant. Accessed 9 September 2026.
- Asif MI, et al. Contact lenses for visual rehabilitation in post-keratoplasty eyes: A review. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025;73(Suppl 3):S369–S383. doi:10.4103/IJO.IJO_2394_24.
- Barnett M, et al. Use of Scleral Lenses and Miniscleral Lenses After Penetrating Keratoplasty. Eye & Contact Lens. 2016;42:185–189. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000163.
- Kumar M, et al. Scleral Lens-Induced Corneal Edema after Penetrating Keratoplasty. Optometry and Vision Science. 2020;97:697–702. doi:10.1097/OPX.0000000000001571.
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Corneal transplantation. Accessed 9 September 2026.
- Severinsky B, et al. Scleral contact lenses for visual rehabilitation after penetrating keratoplasty: long term outcomes. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. 2014;37:196–202. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2013.11.001.
Reviewed by Dr Shonit Jagmohan, B.Optom (Hons), FIAOMC, IACMM, Ophthalmic Medicines Prescriber, Fellowship Chair for the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (Oceania). Last reviewed October 2026.
Visit us in Camberwell
T. (03) 9882 5666
E. vision@visioncamberwell.com.au
Find Us at:
784 Burke Rd, Camberwell
Victoria 3124, Australia
Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday. 9am – 6pm
Wednesday. 9am – 5pm
Thursday. 10.30am – 7.30pm
Saturday. CLOSED
Book your appointment with one of our friendly team members today
T: (03) 9882 5666
Serving Camberwell and the Surrounding South Eastern Suburbs
An independent practice in Camberwell since 1951, we are experts in specialty contact lenses, including fittings after a corneal graft. We welcome patients from Hawthorn, Deepdene, Surrey Hills, Balwyn, Kew, Canterbury, Box Hill, Glen Iris, and across greater Melbourne.
