Clinical Analysis of Keratoplasty over a 23 Year-Time Span

ABSTRACT

The authors analysed 808 of 837 eyes with keratoplasty over 23 years from April 19, 1967 to December 31, 1989 in the Department of Ophthalmology at Catholic University St. Mary Hospital. The results were as follows 1. Sex and age distribution of recipient male patients were predominant, and the age group from 21 to 30 years was the most common. 2. Sex and age distribution of donor female patients were predominant, although the number of males increased with time. The age group from 71 to 80 years was the most common, which indicates a tendency toward older donors. 3. In looking for causative diseases which resulted in corneal opacity, herpes, measles and non-herpetic ulcers decreased, but keratoconus and bullous keratopathy increased. 4. Penetrating keratoplasty was the most common type of corneal graft. However combined and triple surgery were also performed. 5. The continuous suture was the most common except in the 1st period, and the 7.0 mm trephine size was usually selected. 6. The most common cause of opaque grafts after keratoplasty was graft rejection in the 1st and 2nd periods and corneal edema in the 3rd and 4th periods.