Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in nonhealing corneal ulcer

Results of penetrating keratoplasty in 443 eyes of 439 patients of active infective corneal ulcers, from a period of 10 years, were analyzed. All these eyes were proven refractory to maximal medical therapy for extended periods of time, in some cases more than 6 weeks. As the surgery was performed during the active stage, the outcome was not favorable functionally. Clinical cure was obtained, however, by therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in all but 27 of these eyes. Of unsuccessful cases, 16 could be saved with additional medical therapy, two led to phthisis bulbi, and nine required repeat therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. Complications encountered included disturbances in intraocular dynamics such as extrusion of the lens and vitreous during surgery, secondary rise of intraocular pressure leading to damage of the optic nerve, loss of the eye due to above factors, and reinfection. The anatomical success achieved was 97% with graft clarity of 2+ or more in 39% of eyes. Useful vision, ie, better than or equal to 6/60, was possible in 33% of eyes. Thus, therapeutic keratoplasty in refractory corneal ulcer still has scope in a Third-World country.