Systems and methods for corneal transplants

A method for transplanting a corneal implant, comprising:

• providing a corneal implant, the corneal implant comprising:
• donor corneal tissue extracted from a donor cornea, the donor corneal tissue having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the donor corneal tissue including an interior channel formed in the donor corneal tissue at a depth below the anterior surface, the channel having a channel shape;
• and
• a supporting structure formed from non-tissue material and positioned in the channel, the supporting structure having a supporting-structure shape and providing support to resist deformation of the donor corneal tissue;
• removing unwanted corneal tissue from a recipient cornea and correspondingly forming a cavity in the recipient cornea;
• positioning the corneal implant in the cavity;
• and
• coupling, with sutures, the corneal implant to the recipient cornea.