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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
[Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty: indications and results in Tunisia]
R Limaiem1, H Mnasri, A El Maazi
1Service B, Institut Hedi Rais d'Ophtalmologie de Tunis, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie. rlimaiem@yahoo.fr
Purpose:
To report the experience of the Tunis Institute of Ophthalmology (Tunisia) in therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 35 patients after therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty over a period of 6 years (between September 2002 and September 2008).
Results:
The mean patient age was 49.3 years. Men outnumbered women by a ratio of 2.5 to 1. The mean follow-up was 13.5 months. Corneal diseases within a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty were divided into infectious keratitis (21 eyes) and noninfectious diseases (14 eyes). Herpetic keratitis was the most common etiology (11 eyes). The anatomical success rate was 92.4%, with infection eradicated in 80% of cases. The graft clarity at the end of follow-up was 54.2%. Rejection was the leading cause of graft opacification (50%). Final visual acuity was better than 1/10 in 25.7% of patients. Recovery of useful vision was observed in 45.7% of patients.
Conclusion:
Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty is a surgical technique that has proved its effectiveness in maintaining the integrity of the eyeball. The prognosis for this intervention would probably be better if it could be postponed.
