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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Murine Corneal Transplantation: A Model to Study the Most Common Form of Solid Organ Transplantation
Published on: November 17, 2014
[Pediatric corneal surgery and corneal transplantation]
B Bachmann1, G Avgitidou, S Siebelmann
1Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universität zu Köln, Kerpenerstr. 62, 50937, Köln, Deutschland, bjoern.bachmann@uk-koeln.de.
Insights
Pediatric corneal transplantation is challenging due to surgical difficulties and complications. Lamellar keratoplasty offers improved outcomes and faster visual recovery in children, reducing amblyopia risk.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Corneal Disease Management
Context:
- Congenital and infantile corneal diseases present significant surgical challenges.
- Infants and young children require specialized care, including examinations under anesthesia.
- Intraoperative and postoperative complications are common in pediatric corneal surgery.
Purpose:
- To highlight the complexities of surgical treatment for congenital and infantile corneal diseases.
- To compare the benefits of lamellar keratoplasty versus penetrating keratoplasty in pediatric patients.
- To emphasize strategies for mitigating surgical risks and improving visual outcomes.
Summary:
- Surgical treatment for pediatric corneal diseases is demanding, with issues like low scleral rigidity, vitreous pressure, and narrow anterior chambers.
- Complications include increased fibrin reaction, higher rejection rates, and suture loosening.
- Lamellar corneal transplantation (LCT) reduces graft rejection and wound leakage risks.
- Posterior lamellar keratoplasty (PLK) in children provides faster visual recovery than penetrating keratoplasty (PK), lowering amblyopia risk.
Impact:
- Lamellar keratoplasty techniques improve graft survival and reduce the need for repeat surgeries.
- Faster visual recovery in children minimizes the risk of developing permanent vision impairment (amblyopia).
- Advances in LCT offer better long-term visual prognosis for pediatric corneal conditions.
Abstract:
The surgical treatment of congenital corneal diseases or corneal diseases occurring during infancy is demanding even for experienced corneal surgeons. Besides the need for frequent examinations under anesthesia during the postoperative follow-up in young children and infants (e.g. after corneal transplantation), the surgeon frequently encounters intraoperative and postoperative problems, such as low scleral rigidity, positive vitreous pressure and a narrow anterior chamber. Other problems include increased fibrin reaction, an increased risk of rejection in cases of allogenic corneal transplantation and frequent loosening of sutures necessitating replacement or early removal. Lamellar corneal transplantation reduces the risk of graft rejection and the risk of wound leakage. Moreover, posterior lamellar keratoplasty in children offers a faster visual recovery compared to penetrating keratoplasty and thus reduces the risk of amblyopia.
