engleski

Long-term results of penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus

Keratoconus involves the central cornea thinning and bulging forward, and may also be associated with central corneal scarring. It is usually bilateral though frequently one eye is more affected than the other. It onset is usually at puberty, and is estimated to develop in 1 person per 20, 000 people. While contact lenses can be used to maintain the regular shape of the cornea, in 5 to 10 percent of patients with keratoconus this will not give satisfactory results, and a corneal transplant is required. Patients records of 90 consecutive cases of perforative corneal transplantation due to keratoconus performed by experienced corneal surgeons between January 1996 and October 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Relevant preoperative and postoperative data were collected. Outcome of the graft was assesed by the graft clarity and visual acuity on Snellen chart at the last visit. Follow up period was at least one year for each patient. Of 90 keratoconus patients, 60 were male and 30 were female with mean age 33.79 +/- 11.44, median 31.5, range from 15 to 58. Mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity was 0.03 +/- 0.07, range from light perception to 0.2. Mean postoperative uncorrected visual acuity at last visit was 0.25 +/- 0.25, median 0.15, range from light perception to 0.7, mean postoperative best corrected visual acuity at last visit was 0.56 +/- 0.31, median 0.6, range from light perception to 1.0. 2, 7% of the grafts were rejected. Perforative corneal transplantation in general anesthesia is method of choice for patients with decompensated keratoconus. We had rejection rate of 2, 7%, and visual acuity improved from 0.03 to 0.56.

corneal transplantation; cornea; keratoconus

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