Retinal detachment in penetrating keratoplasty patients

We reviewed the records of 23 patients who had retinal detachment after penetrating keratoplasty. Seventeen retinas (74%) were reattached successfully. Of the six failures, four patients had hemorrhagic choroidal detachment at the time of keratoplasty. When these complex retinal detachments are subtracted, 17 of 19 patients (89%) had successful retinal reattachments. Of the 17 successes, only seven patients had visual acuity of 20/200 or better. Retinal detachments after penetrating keratoplasty can be repaired with a high rate of success, but visual results remain disappointing.