Bay Tissue Institute

Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK)

What are you looking at?
Image 1: PK graft secured with a running suture.
Image 2: PK graft with 16 interrupted sutures.
Image 3: PK graft with 24 interrupted sutures.
Image 4: PK graft with a combination of running & interrupted sutures.
Image 5: A crystal clear PK graft 30 years after the procedure.

PK is a full-thickness transplant procedure in which a trephine is used to make a full-thickness resection of the patient's cornea, followed by the placement of a full-thickness donor corneal graft. Interrupted and/or running sutures are then placed radially at equal tension to minimize post-operative astigmatism. Later, the sutures are selectively removed to reduce the amount of astigmatism present.

PKs are performed primarily for visually significant stromal scarring, opacities with an uncertain status of the endothelium or significant posterior corneal involvement, corneal ectasia (such as keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration), combined stromal and epithelial disease, and infectious or non-infectious corneal ulcerations or perforations.

(Donaghy CL, Vislisel JM, Goins KM, Greiner MA. An Introduction to Corneal Transplantation. May 21, 2015; Available from: https://eyerounds.org/tutorials/cornea-transplant-intro/)

: 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁

A young student who had to drop out of university when his vision was severely affected by keratoconus has regained his sight thanks to a successful corneal transplant at the Universitas Annex Hospital under the leadership of Prof Wayne Marais from the University of the Free State (UFS).

This life-changing procedure was made possible by donor tissue from a young organ donor from Bloemfontein. The donor tissue was retrieved by the dedicated team from the Bay Tissue Institute under the guidance of Dr Theunis Botha, with the assistance of Ryan Scheepers, Dr Joshua Cummings from the Universitas Hospital, and the team at the Bloemfontein Eye and Laser Clinic. Their coordinated work ensures that donor tissue is prepared safely and respectfully for transplantation.

The operation took place on Tuesday 26 May 2026, with Prof Marais, Head of the UFS Department of Ophthalmology, as the lead surgeon. He was assisted by Dr Cummings. Ophthalmology registrars from the university were also part of the operation. Keratoconus, according to Prof Marais, is a progressive condition in which the cornea becomes thin and irregular, leading to distortion, scarring, and significant visual loss. The condition of the 21-year-old student, whose name and details are being withheld to protect his identity, had progressed to the point where he had to pause his studies at the University of Pretoria.

Read more: https://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive-item/campus-news/2026/june/student-s-ability-to-see-restored-with-corneal-transplant

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Most people who receive a cornea transplant experience at least partial restoration of vision. Recovery and visual outcomes depend on your overall health and the reason for the surgery.

Initially, vision may be worse than before surgery as the eye adjusts to the new cornea. Vision improvement can take up to several months.

During recovery, your ophthalmologist may make adjustments to improve vision. For example, stitches holding the donor cornea in place can sometimes cause astigmatism, leading to blurry vision. This may be corrected by adjusting or removing some stitches.

The risk of complications and corneal rejection can continue for years after the transplant, making regular follow-up appointments with an ophthalmologist essential.

"Liquid gold" is now available in Polokwane.

We are excited to welcome Sr. Lusinda Marsh to our fast-growing network of serum sites.

Sr. Marsh has been a professional nurse for 25 years with experience in pediatrics, laboratory services and clinic services. She has been working as a clinic practitioner for the last 16 years. She loves what she does and has a keen desire to help everyone.

You can find her at Van Heerden Pharmacy in Thabo Mbeki Street.

Book your appointment on our website -> www.baytissue.co.za

Some gifts change lives in ways words can barely capture… 🤍

This letter, written by a cornea transplant recipient, is a powerful reminder of the quiet miracles made possible through donation. From a place of uncertainty and vision loss, to renewed hope and the promise of seeing clearly again. All because one family chose generosity in the midst of loss.

Behind every transplant is a story like this. A life touched. A future rewritten. A second chance at seeing the world.

To our donor families: your kindness lives on in ways you may never fully see, but will always be deeply felt.

(Personal information has been removed to protect their privacy.)

On Saturday, we experienced the world a little differently.

Dinner in the Dark is an exquisite fine-dining experience hosted, catered, and served by the visually impaired. Inspired by Hein Wagner, a blind man with a powerful vision, this unique evening invited guests to dine in complete darkness, heightening the senses while offering a powerful glimpse into life without sight.

The evening aimed to raise awareness for the visually impaired and to support corneal banking in South Africa, helping to restore sight and change lives.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible teams who helped bring this evening to life:
✨ Rennasance Construction
✨ Imbono Architects
✨ Stu Davidson & Sons
✨ Inspiration Events

A special thank you to Muse Restaurant for the divine catering, Abbott Coffee for the warm beverages that added the perfect finishing touch to the evening, and King Liquor Agencies for the delicious wines thoughtfully paired with each course.

Thank you as well to Laetitia Bosch from Laetitia Bosch Photography for beautifully capturing the evening’s elegantly dressed guests and preserving these special moments.

And of course, thank you to Hein Wagner and his remarkable team for reminding us that when one sense is removed, empathy, understanding, and connection grow even stronger.