European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background/Purpose:
To study the clinical indications, visual outcome, complications of penetrating keratoplasty and to compare the effect of hospital corneal retrieval vs home retrieval with the visual outcome and complications post keratoplasty. In addition, the study aims to highlight the effectiveness of the hospital donor cornea retrieval program.
Methods:
A 2 year prospective study was conducted with 52 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for optical indications with regular follow up on post-operative day 1 (POD), 1st , 3rd month and 6th month. The various indications for keratoplasty, early and late complications and factors causing them , Death to enucleation, preservation time and the mode of cornea retrieval were also noted. The results were compared with the post-operative visual acuity and the incidence of developing graft failure post operatively.
Results:
The most common indication was bullous keratopathy (38.4 %). Overall improvement in vision was seen in 69.2 % of patients compared to pre-operative vision. Most common early post operative complication was epithelial defect (30.7 %) and late complications were secondary glaucoma leading to graft failure. Donor factors such as lesser death to enucleation and preservation time was associated with better visual outcome (p<0.001). Hospital retrieved corneas had better visual outcome (p=0.20) and lesser rate of graft failure (p=0.004).