Visual results after corneal transplantation.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Corneal transplantation success is measured by graft clarity and visual acuity.
• Graft failure and rejection impact long-term visual outcomes.
• Understanding disease-specific results is key to improving transplantation efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize visual results of corneal transplantation across five corneal diseases with low graft failure rates.
• To analyze reasons for graft clouding and its impact on visual acuity.
• To evaluate graft rejection patterns and outcomes in primary versus repeat transplants.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of visual acuity data one year post-transplantation.
• Categorization of corneal diseases and assessment of graft clarity.
• Analysis of graft rejection incidence, reversibility, and impact on repeat transplants.

Main Results:

• Keratoconus patients achieved an average visual acuity of 0.5 post-transplantation.
• Patients with corneal decompensation post-cataract surgery had an average visual acuity of 0.2.
• Graft clouding was analyzed as a cause of visual impairment.
• Reversible rejections occurred in 60% of primary grafts, but only 2 out of 10 repeat transplants were salvaged.

Conclusions:

• Visual outcomes after corneal transplantation differ significantly based on the underlying corneal disease.
• Graft rejection is a primary concern, particularly in repeat corneal transplants.
• Enhanced strategies are needed to prevent secondary transplant failure and achieve optimal visual rehabilitation.