[Corneal transplantation in Parma: a critical review of activities from 1983 to 1989]

At the Institute of Ophthalmology of Parma 66 corneal transplants were performed from 1983 to 1989. In this period the number of grafts per year remarkably increased. Two therapeutic choices characterized corneal transplantation in Parma: a) a fresh donor cornea was used without any storage medium; b) the post-operative ambulatory follow-up of patients was particularly frequent in the first 12 months after surgery. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 75 months (mean 25 months). The life table calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method shows a graft survival of 86% after 4 years. Graft failures were 8. The authors report all postoperative complications that appeared. In comparison with what reported in Literature, a higher percentage of graft survival and a better final visual acuity were observed in the patients who underwent corneal transplantation in the Eye Clinic of Parma.