[Keratoplasty in childhood (author's transl)]

Report on 36 keratoplasties (30 eyes) in children up to 15 years of age. An efficient postoperative care was of critical importance for the final outcome. The specific problems are discussed. Regarding the fact that generally children are only operated on in case of heavy corneal disease which brings about a higher risk of graft failure our results may be judged as "fair": 63% of the transplants were optically clear; 43% exhibited good and 30% fair functional results. The best results were achieved with keratoplasties in corneal dystrophies (keratoconus included). Another group with good results was that with herpetic corneal disease, whereas transplants after heavy perforating injuries mostly failed. A beter postoperative medical collaboration and consultation is needed to improve final results. This is especially true for correcting operative measures (loosening sutures) and for therapy and prophylaxis of graft reactions.