[Corneal endothelial cell damage in penetrating keratoplasty]

Fifty-eight corneal grafts were investigated by specular microscopy to determine the corneal endothelial damage in penetrating keratoplasty. The center of the donor corneal endothelium was examined before and after 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. The cell density decreased periodically during the observation period, and the endothelial cell loss in all the cases averaged 10. 4% at 2 weeks after the operation, 16.0% at 1 month, 33.0% at 3 months, 39.4% at 6 months, and 48. 2% at 12 months. However, the cell loss in the keratoconus subgroup averaged -1.9%, 1.2%, 9.9%, 30. 6%, and 33.4% corresponding to the above period. The least cell loss among the diagnostic subgroups was in the keratoconus, followed by corneal leukoma. The cell loss in bullous keratopathy was higher than in keratoconus and corneal leukoma case. It was concluded that the cell loss in penetrating keratoplasty during the first postoperative year depends on the primary disease.