Introduction: Current Status of Modern Corneal Transplantation—Success, Failures and Turning Points

The cornea is one of the most frequently transplanted tissues. Moreover, due to its immunologically privileged properties, it is believed to be probably the most successful. In this chapter, we present a complete review of the main types of corneal grafts and their indications, complications and risk factors. The success of modern keratoplasty not only depends on the anatomical success (graft survival) but also the functional results as refractive outcomes. The real success rate of corneal transplantation procedures is determined by many factors that are still not under adequate clinical practical control. Thus, there is still a wide area and opportunity to improve such outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty with further improvements. In this chapter, we highlight the main factors involved in today’s outcomes and the perspectives of improvement that are foreseen.