[Keratoplasty in the management of Terrien's marginal degeneration]

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of keratoplasty combined with corneal foci resection in the treatment of Terrien's marginal degeneration (TMD).

In this nonrandomized retrospective case series, the records of 48 eyes from 40 patients with TMD who received keratoplasty from January 1995 to December 2005 in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center were reviewed retrospectively. Orbscan topography examination was undertaken in 8 eyes of 8 patients and the refractive error of 9 eyes from 9 patients was tested before and after the operation.

The mean age of the patients was (30 +/- 6) years old. The mean follow up period was (7 +/- 6) years. It took (3 +/- 1) months postoperatively to obtain a stable visual acuity. Before operation, the naked eye and best corrected visual acuity (VA) (Q25,Q75) were (0.05,0.4), and (0.1,0.5), respectively, while improved to (0.2,0.6) and (0.4,0.7) after operation, respectively (Z = 4.63, 3.85, both P<0.01). VA was improved in 39 eyes (81.3%), remained at the same level in 4 eyes (8.3%), decreased 1-2 lines in 3 eyes (6.3%), and decreased more than 2 lines in 2 eyes (4.1%) after the operation. The median spherical diopter and cylinder diopter were (-2.00 D, -8.50 D) and (2.50 D,12.00 D) before operation, while decreased to ( -1.25 D, -4.75 D) and (0.75 D, 4.25 D) after operation (Z= 2. 49, 2.54, P = 0.01, 0.01). The improvement in Sim K's astigmatism, astigmatism in 3 mm zone and mean power in 3 mm and 5 mm zone were reduced statistically significant after the operation (P <0.05); with the exception of astigmatism in the 5 mm zone, which was not reduced significantly after the operation (Z = 1.86, P = 0.06) . The operative complications included corneal perforation during operation in 5 eyes (10.4%), hydrops between graft and recipient interface in 8 eyes (16.7%), epithelial in-growth in 4 eyes (8.3%), choroidal detachment in 1 eye (2.1%), graft rejection in 7 eyes (14.6%), and recurrence in 3 eyes (6.3%). Secondary surgery was required in 5 eyes (10.4%) for interface hydrops, epithelial in-growth and recurrence of TMD.

Keratoplasty combined with foci resection is effective and safe in the treatment of TMD. This procedure can preserve and improve the visual activity.