Clinical Results of Penetrating Keratoplasty in Keratoconus

ABSTRACT

We conducted a retrospective study of 45 penetrating keratoplasties (39 patients) for keratoconus from March 1986 to February 1991 at St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. The follow-up period was at least over 1 year. The penetrating keratoplasties were performed most commonly in the interval between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis of keratoconus (25 patients; 64.1%). The hard contact lenses were the most commonly used for visual correction before penetrating keratoplasty. Corneal scar was the most common indication for keratoplasty (35 eyes 77.8%). The most common postoperative complication was loose suture (14 eyes; 31.1%). Overall, 43 out of the 45 corneal transplants (95.6%) remained clear and these eyes attained best-corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better.