Corneal transplants offer patients with blindness and impaired vision a chance to see life through, literally, a different set of eyes. But, the complications of the surgery can leave the patient with a high risk of eye Infection if the donor was ill upon death.

A recent study, reported in the Archives of Opthalmology, aimed at finding the chance of corneal transplant infection has found the rate of infection in recipient patients to be three times higher if the donor patient was ill upon death. The illnesses included cancers and many of the patients that pass away in the hospital.

Corneal transplant infections are a serious concern to both the recipient and the doctors performing the transplant. While the infection can be treated, the results are often permanent blindness.

The study also revealed that the length of time between the cornea harvest from the donor and the transplant surgery also increased the chance of infection. In waits longer than 5 days, the chance of infection increased.

The information from the study was obtained by looking at the transplant records from 1994 to 2003.

Doctors are hoping a combination of a donor screening process and medicinal advancements will cut the infection rate dramatically.