The prognosis for keratoplasty in keratoconus

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Transplantation Science

Background:

• Phakic keratoconus is a progressive corneal disease.
• Corneal transplantation is a common treatment for advanced keratoconus.
• Long-term outcomes of corneal grafts for phakic keratoconus require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term results of corneal grafts in patients with phakic keratoconus.
• To assess the relationship between donor age and graft survival.
• To determine the visual acuity outcomes following keratoconus corneal transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 326 consecutive corneal grafts for phakic keratoconus.
• Minimum follow-up of five years, with a mean of 11.3 years (range 5-34 years).
• Analysis of graft clarity, visual acuity, and donor age.

Main Results:

• Ninety percent of corneal grafts remained clear at long-term follow-up.
• Seventy-three percent of eyes achieved 20/40 or better visual acuity after the initial graft.
• No correlation was found between donor age (including >70 years) and long-term graft clarity.

Conclusions:

• Corneal transplantation offers excellent long-term clarity and visual outcomes for phakic keratoconus.
• Donor age is not a significant factor in the long-term success of corneal grafts for this condition.
• The study supports the efficacy of corneal grafting for managing phakic keratoconus.