Information About Appointments

Am I Eligible to Make an Appointment?

The clinic serves patients with corneal diseases such as

Fuchs endothelial dystrophy
keratoconus
pseudophakic and phakic bullous keratopathy
corneal decompensation resulting from e.g. buphthalmus, anterior chamber lenses or glaucoma tubes

In addition, if you have previously had a penetrating keratoplasty and you are eligible for re-transplantation, we can perform a lamellar corneal transplantation using our DMEK technique.

Initial Consultation at No Obligation

You are always welcome to visit us for an initial consultation. You do not need a referral from your ophthalmologist. During this first consultation, we will perform all the necessary examinations to correctly diagnose your condition and design a treatment plan. Then you decide whether you would like to pursue treatment in our clinic.

Combined Visit – Initial Consultation and Corneal Transplantation

In many cases, we can combine an initial consultation with a corneal transplantation (if indicated). Please send us your medical records so that we can accurately assess your ophthalmological situation. Based on our assessment, we will determine whether you are eligible for a combined appointment.

Visual Acuity Threshold for Surgery on Patients with Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy

For patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, doctors often use a threshold of 30 percent visual acuity or less to determine whether corneal transplantation is indicated. In our clinic, we base our decision primarily on your own experience:

Are you moderately to severely hampered in your daily activities?
Are you willing to undergo corneal transplantation?

Your answers will guide our decision on whether to operate. DMEK surgery is less invasive than a penetrating keratoplasty and patients recover more quickly, often with greater visual improvement. That means there is no need to delay treatment.

How Long Is the Waiting List for an Appointment or Operation?

We are committed to keeping our patients’ wait times short. You can expect:

3–4 weeks for an initial consultation
6–10 weeks for a corneal transplantation

What Can I Expect at My First Appointment?

Initial consultations always take place on a Wednesday. During this appointment, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions, and you will walk through a number of steps.

Step 1
You will be welcomed by our front desk staff, who will take your personal and medical information to create your electronic patient record (EPR).
Step 2
Right after that, our optometrist will perform initial testing. She will measure your visual acuity, assess your eye disorder, and perform other evaluations.
Step 3
A team of specialists will gather detailed information on your cornea, such as its thickness and shape.
Step 4
You will meet with one of our ophthalmologists. The doctor will examine your eyes, discuss the results of steps 2 and 3 with you, and if indicated, create a treatment plan with you.

Would you like to know more about our staff? Visit our Team page to read about everyone who works in the clinic.

Consultation and Surgery in One Appointment

Are you eligible to combine your initial consultation and corneal transplantation in a single visit? If so, please reserve at least 16 days for your visit. Your initial consultation will be on a Wednesday. You will walk through the steps listed above, and your corneal surgery will take place six days later, on a Tuesday.

To closely monitor your recovery after corneal transplantation, we schedule several postoperative checkups. In most cases the Wednesday after your surgery will be the last checkup. You can then return home.

What Should I Bring to My First Appointment?

Please bring the following items with you (if applicable):

Your ophthalmological records from a previous hospital
The prescription for your current glasses or contact lenses
Your distance glasses (the glasses you wear to clearly see things that are far away)
Your contact lens accessories (case and fluid)
Information on any medications you are taking
A completed medical history form. We will send you this form when we confirm your appointment in writing.

What Happens After Corneal Transplantation?

We perform corneal transplantations on Tuesdays. In the week after your surgery, we will perform several checkups to monitor your recovery. In most cases, the final checkup will be on the following Wednesday, one week after your operation. If your recovery is going well, you can then return home.

It is important to have your eye checked regularly. These checkups are scheduled one, three, six, nine and twelve months after your operation. After that, you should have your eye checked every six months. You can come to our clinic in Rotterdam for your checkups, or visit an ophthalmologist in your own country. In that case, please have your doctor send us the results of these checkups.

How Do I Make an Appointment or Contact the Clinic?

You can reach us by telephone at 0031 10 2974444 during our regular work hours, 8:30 – 17:00 CET (UTC +1).

You can also e-mail your contact information to info@corneaclinic.nl or fill out this appointment form.

We will contact you within one to two workdays to schedule an appointment or answer your questions. You will always receive written confirmation of your appointment.

How Do I Reach the Clinic?

For directions on how to reach the clinic and information on your stay in Rotterdam, please see Travel Directions and Hotels.