Escalation of glaucoma therapy after penetrating keratoplasty

To determine the prevalence and risk factors for escalation of glaucoma therapy after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and its impact on graft survival and visual outcome.

Retrospective case series.

Seven hundred fifteen consecutive eyes of 678 patients undergoing PK.

Retrospective review of every case of PK performed at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2002.

Escalation of glaucoma therapy, graft survival, and visual outcome.

Escalation of glaucoma therapy occurred in 89 (12.4%) eyes of 715 PK procedures during a mean follow-up of 32.2 months. Medical escalation accounted for 73 (82.0%) cases, whereas surgical escalation occurred in 16 (18.0%) eyes. The following were significantly associated with an increased risk of escalation of glaucoma therapy: surgical indication for PK (P<0.001), increasing patient age (P<0.001), preexisting glaucoma (P<0.001), recipient trephination < 7.0 mm (P = 0.02), and pseudophakia or aphakia (P<0.001). Eyes with escalation of glaucoma therapy had significant reduction in graft survival compared with eyes in which this did not occur (52.8% vs. 82.9%, P<0.001). Escalation of glaucoma therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the percentage of eyes achieving visual acuity of 20/40 or better (9.0% vs. 42.1%, P<0.001) and a significant increase in those obtaining 20/200 or worse (70.8% vs. 26.7%, P<0.001).

Escalation of glaucoma therapy is a serious sequela of PK that is significantly associated with an increased risk of graft failure and poor visual outcome.