Penetrating keratoplasty in Lesotho

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Transplantation Surgery

Background:

• Penetrating keratoplasty is a vital surgical procedure for restoring vision.
• Outcomes in developing nations are crucial for global health equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term success of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in Lesotho.
• To identify factors affecting graft outcomes in a developing African nation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 64 therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty procedures.
• Assessment of graft survival and influencing variables.

Main Results:

• Overall long-term graft success rate was 60.7%.
• Graft size, anterior segment pathology, iris adhesion, and rejection onset significantly impacted outcomes.
• McCarey-Kaufman medium supported corneal storage for up to 7 days.
• Transracial corneal transplantation did not increase immune rejection.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in Lesotho demonstrates comparable success rates to developed countries.
• Specific surgical and postoperative factors require careful management to optimize graft survival.
• Corneal storage and transplantation across racial lines are viable options.