The incidence of retinal detachment after penetrating keratoplasty

Of 610 penetrating keratoplasties reviewed, retinal detachments did not occur after any phakic graft, or after aphakic or combined (keratoplasty and cataract extraction) procedures unless these were associated with vitreous manipulation. A 5.4% incidence of retinal detachment occurred after keratoplasty that involved vitrectomy. The resultant detachments had a poor prognosis probably because of delayd diagnosis and difficulties in visualization. Vitreous manipulation, therefore, may be essential to graft clarity but it is hazardous.